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May 19th, 2008
08:23 PM ET
Follow-Up: Getting Paid to Study
Before we asked you who your favorite teacher was, the blog post that got the most responses was a January entry about getting paid to study. A few months later, we revisited the story with the opinions of the students who participated.
Now here's the deal: Back in January, most of you thought the program was a bad idea. (Click here to read what you had to say.) Did Tuesday's report change your mind or reinforce the same opinion you had four months ago?
Carl Azuz, Anchor
I still think it's a bad idea to pay students for studying.
I think paid to study is a great idea. I think this because kids earn money while get good grades in school.
I think that it is unfair to the people with good grades. It would be cool if the people that get good grades got like $25 or something. Then you could pay the people that are in tutoring $5 per hour. Then the people that don't get good grades and don't get a tutor for it would want to get a tutor to get good grades.
i think it would be cool to get paid to study heck i would study everyday every second I LOVE MONEY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don't think that it's fair to pay kids who have bad grades and not pay the kids that already have been working hard for their good grades. There are two reasons why a kid should be getting bad grades: first, if they actually don't understand the topic, and second, if they don't do the work.
I think a better option would be to pay all the kids who have good grades already a flat rate, like $25 or $30, and then offer tutoring so the kids who don't have good grades because they don't understand it have the opportunity to get good grades and the money. Then the kids who really don't care don't have to participate. That would be fair to everybody.
Seeing this new report only reinforced my previous opinion: paying kids to study is a ridiculously bad idea. I am relieved to see that private money, not public, was used, but that doesn't mean I support the program. If a kid is not motivated enough to attend FREE tutoring, why on earth should we pay him to attend? Sure, his education is important, but hey, that's free too! It's not like these kids need the money so badly that if it wasn't offered, they'd have to quit school and get a job.
Also, the success of this program cannot be scientifically measured until we see how these students are doing a set time after the study. Just because they get higher test scores immediately after the program, that doesn't mean that other students offered free tutoring wouldn't have achieved test scores just as high. Finally, good test scores now are no indicator of future success, and unless the students have actually shown long-term interest in learning, they're no better off than they were before.
i think that it is great to get paid to learn because it happened to me during the summer. i got piad to learn about the workplace.
We have seroius reservations about the pay for learn program. It seems unfair to monetarily reward some for work that others do on their own without that incentive.
Canton, CT.
i don't think that you should get paid for doing what you should do any ways. what about the kids who already work hard for there grade. this may help in some ways but i think that it will hurt in a lot of other ways.
I think it is dumb to pay kids to learn. I think if kids want to go any where in life that they, themselves with a push from there parents will go do it. Dont bribe them to do so. When they graduate and get into the real world there will be no one to tell them to go get a job or get up in the morning they have to do it because they want to.
This is a great idea if it was myself but honestly it's a bad idea. Sure it will be motivating for students but it will only teach them that they should only be motivated by money instead of doing the right thing. But still I'd like to do it. Let me know when this happens in Daytona.
Good idea for myself. Bad idea for schools.
Yeah I think paying students is a good idea because the school will get more students to participate! Most important They are learning while they are getting paid and with the money they earn they can pay for stuff and help out others.
I think getting paid while learning is a great idea! Because students can earn money and get good grades at the same time!
As a middle school teacher and a taxpayer, I think that paying students who have already had a chance to learn is a terrible idea. Our taxes go to teach students. Education should be offered once in a public school. If students do not apply effort, then the next time they get a chance they should be paying the school, not the other way around.
The girl who was on CNN stated she used her money to pay for her hair. When my eighth garde students saw that, they were sickened. One student in my class said she would save the money for college.
It is a shame that our taxes are going toward helping the lazy. We should offer incentives to the students who work hard and are successful as a result, not to those who have opportunity after opportunity thrown at them. What are we teaching?
i think it's great to have students learning, the money is a genius idea to get teenagers to pass their classes
I think it is a silly idea to be paid to do school work. Our parents before us weren't paid for school and I don't think we should be either. Doing our duty to our selves is a better reward than ever. They could have just have given free tutoring and thought of neat ways to make learning cool. Money is NOT the only motivater and does not bring happiness. I understand that many people are struggling, but the ticket to freedom is NOT money but education.
Thank you. 🙂
This is not fair to the students that go to schools and don't get paid to study.Also it motivates them to study and be motivated by money and other students get the pride of studying who knows these kids that get paid for studying might just be lying to get money.
I think that this idea is good for students who work hard in the Learn and Earn program, but for other students who worked in the Learn and Earn program just for the money and ones who worked good from the begining, it is not good for them. Also giving money 8$ an hour is bad for the school, too. But the good points are that poor students can earn money and they can learn as well. However I disagree with this idea.
I think that it helps kids see the point of studying and how it helps you get better grade and be more sucessful.
~Haley~
Well I don't really think its a good idea to pay kids to study. Like its been said the students may not want to study later if they're not getting paid and it isn't fair to the students who do study. But today's show portrayed that it might actually be a good thing because the student's grades raised. Also today showed that some students just wanted to do the program to get better grades. Here's an idea. Set up a tutoring program that helps the students that want help instead of bribing them. I don't I guess that's just my thoughts. =D
i think its a good idea cause its a good motivation for the students and the ppl who want to study
It's very weird to be paid only to be present in the school. I think that with that, all the people will want to "go to the school". It's a very big problem that you only go to the school for that. I think that the people only are poor, miserable and foolish onyl because they didn't want to learn.
well this program it's interesting and i hope that one day it will come to mexico and many students may be wil accept it
I think that this not a very good way to have a tootering group beause if someone gets payed they have more modavation to do something once you dont have that group any more the child might (most likely) slack and not do so good because they dont have that reward any more
i think that all the schools are a good idea because the students have a motivation.
I think that this program is an incredible idea cause the students would like to go to school and i have a question who is going to pay for the program???
I don't know where the money comes out. It is part of school fee?
I think that the kids that dont want to learn will show up just for money unless they base your pay off of your grades then it would be a good idea.
other people study and work hard in school to learn and get an education. niw, people are just doing it for money. is the money from the government? if so, we could use it for other things.
Hey,
I think its a bad idea because the students who do get straight As dont get anything for all there hard work. But as a kid myself i do like the money and in that point of view it can be a good experience for those kids. But i do not want to have this getting paid to study program come to my school.
I think that it is a good idea for kids to get a better education. But what about the kids who alredy do good in their grades? What would they get as an award to make it fare to all the students. Just keep school simple and not give money. Kids don't need money to encourage them.
Three perspectives from my students:
"It's a good way to get kids motivated for learning. It's like a job. "
"I don't like the idea because when you're done and out of the system you probably won't want to study if you aren't being paid."
"It's not fair to the people who work hard because they do it for free."
– Mr. Coulter
"It's a good idea because some kids need motivation. After the kids got money they were motivated to learn. It's bomb. Money is good motivation because everyone can use it."
i think this is a great super idea because some students may go to the sutdy for money thing for the money but also pick up on learning since they are arady there.
I don't think it is a good idea for students to get paid to do school work. Why is it fair the only a handful of kids get to be paid while the rest of the students do not get paid? I also think it may back fire and students will start demanding pay for the school work they do.
I think the program is a good idea for the kids who really need it. Most kids who do bad don't feel the need to get tutored and think it is a waste of time, but if they get paid for getting tutored then kids will try for the money. It can help a lot of people, and the results are effective.
I think that this is a good idea because most students do not like to go to school because they feel they are forced to go. I think if we are paid it will motivate kids to want to learn and be happy tom go to school.
I think that it's a bad idea for kids to get paid to study. If they get paid for having a tutor, other kids will want a tutor to make money. If they want a tutor, they'll lower their grades, and that will just make it worse for everyone. They're not reaching for a higher goal; they're getting paid to be content with the grade level they're at. The students in the program won't want to keep improving their grades, because then they won't get paid for being tutored anymore. It's just a bad deal all around.
i think they should get money because they get motvated and get a taste of real life because you have to go through hard work to get hard earned money and they cerainly earned when they start passing their classes.
I believe that it's still a bad idea. What about the kids who have amazing grades? They don't get paid for getting them, they just pay attention and do their work, unlike the people who just don't pay attention and mess around during class. Why should they get paid for not paying attention in class but for going to a study group? I understand if they are under privileged or something, but it still doesn't make sense, getting paid for good grades. It doesn't make sense to me, I know that it will help in the long run, but it's not fair to those who don't need the help.
THATT WOULD BE AWSOME!! i tthink more students would do there work and try because they would want the money
P.S mr.andrews rockss!!!!
i think this is a good idea because it will encourage the kids to do better in school and even tho they get paid its not the governments money so it shouldnt matter what the company does with the money
If we pay students for working after school we will get kids in their just for the money. I know since it is a private organization it does not waste money but they should put it towards somthing better like free tutors for kids who are unable to afford them.
i think this is a great idea! what a good way to get kids motivated to learn. some times it takes a little money to help kids along.
i think its a good thing to pay students to study because then more people would study so they can earn money.
i think the grades for money is very helpful but unfair to students who do well in school. If they don't get paid why should people who don't do well in school be rewarded? So I am kinda pulling between to ends of the rope.
I think its good because it motavaties students to do better in school and they feel like their being rewarded for great work!!!!!!!
It really sucks to not be able to grow their main food source. It must be really hard to survive. Hopefully they will find some way to get food, build shelter and survive during this horrible time.
*I think that being paid for doing something that you should already do is wrong. I also think it's totally unfair to the people who study hard and don't get paid. They do it because they know that's just what they got to do. UNlike the kids who do it just to get the money.*
I think that it is unfair for kids that always do weel becaus they never get paid. it is just unfair for sum of us.
I think it's an O.K idea. If I were getting paid I would totally do it, but I would also do it without being paid. Besides, I would only use the money for personal reasons or if I was in a good mood, I would give it to my mom and dad to pay bills.
I think that students shouldn't get paid for what they should already know they should do. It isn't fair to other kids who already work hard. Think about it for a minute, should everyone get paid for things they know they should do, like Homework, eating, cleaning, etc.?
I think that it is a great idea to pay kids to study. Its a win win situation. You get good grades, and you get money. I think that is something that every kid wants. They can use the money on there self. Or give it to their parents and help the family.
I think that it is a bad idea to pay kids to get good grades it is not fair for them. Because kids who get good grades what do they get as an award?
I think it a good idea to get paid to study because, one you are learning and two you are being pushed to do better. Another thing is that you need to be sure to teach your students well because most of them just do it ofr the money. Also I think that you should encourage your kids to do it because you will no tonly get cash money but you will be learning at the same time. Also after your finish the program you should still continue to go to school.
I think that students shouldn't get paid to do their work, because there supposed to do that work anyway. For example if students get paid for studying then some can pretend there studying or barely get anything done, and they could do this just for the money. Plus i don't think its fair to all the other students in the world that do their work for free.
I think kids getting payed to study is a good idea. When kids have something to do their work for, they want to complete it even more. When kids have stuff to shoot for they like to try even more than the regularly do.
I think that that is a good idea. While earning money, you get to learn and get better grades. I wish that my school should take that up. I'll get $8.00 per hour! AWESOME! 🙂 🙂
its a bad idea
i think that the thing about paying students is a little bit different.i think thats it is a good idea but at the same time i think that it is a bad idea......there are students that work really hard for their grades and i think that those students SHOULD get paid but the students that dont really care about their grades shouldnt get paid at all...they dont deserve to get paid instead they need to get into an afterschool program that will help them improve their grades.then after thier grade simprove then they should join the students that get paid.only then will they realize that if you work hard at something that you should get a reward...that is my opinion
i think the idea is friggin AWSOME!!!!!!!cause i love to go shopping and to o that you need MONEY
I think paying students to study is the most absurd idea I've ever heard. How is that fair to all the other students who do what they are supposed to do? We can't continue to coddle our kids...that is not helping them in the long run. At some point kids have to assume the responsibility for their own actions.
i think that is a good idea !!!!!
we should get paid for our hard work and yes it does pay off! THANK YOU
I think that it is a ridiculous idea. A: It teaches the underporforming kids to only work for money, and B: It doesn't reward the kids who were doing the right thing in the first place.
I think it would be okay to get paid for school if everyone (including the people who are already doing well) are getting paid. If only the people who are having trouble get money, it isn't fair to the ones already doing their job.
I think that paying students to study is a good idea. Our class has had a few discussions about the topic, and most of us agree, getting paid to study would greatly improve our desire to study. While some may talk about how it's a bad idea, and that once students aren't getting paid they won't be willing to study any more, i feel that is not true. Studying is a habit, and once students get into it, and see the effects it's had on their grades, they will want to continue, paid or not.
I think that this idea is good since that it gives money to children who workes hard to learn much. Money would be the first reason for them to start learning and than they would get used to learning that they will keep doing it without money. But, how could the school get so much money to pay kids?
It's not fair to students who have worse grades. Some people can learn quickly but others can not.
I agree with Sara up there!
It's a great way to get us students motivated but i think parents should take things away and then make the kid earn it. Paying the students money to get an education is a waste of peoples tax dollars when that could be going to public services like the fire department. When you're house goes up in smoke and the big red red truck has no gas to get there, blame wasted money.
Angel I don't think that you realise what you are talking about. If you pay them to do something that everyone else is doing then they will be expecting it for the rest of their lifes. That would be bad... I believe that they should not be getting paid at all!
i think that students should have enough motivation to learn on their own. Money is just an obstacle that can decrease the purpose of education.
This is just stupid. Most people are motivated by money but what happens after high school when they go off to college they dont pay you to go to college you pay to go to college. If you really want good grades you earn them you work for them your reward is getting that good grade. Getting a good education is your reward.
I think being paid to study is ridiculous! Besides the standard comment about the fact that kids should work for an education anyways, and it is unfair to the kids who do study, kids should not get paid for education;look at all the millions of kids in other countries who don't even have an opportunity to study-they would not care where they had to go to get an education, they would just want to learn. Because of this, what right do we have to pay kids to study who have all the oportunity in front of them, but just don't have the motivation?
I think kids being paid to study is an idiotic idea. I mean, what about the kids who work hard for their good grades? I believe that it would be a good program if the money part was left out. Keeping the money involved only allows kids to focus on the money their getting, not their education. Not very effective when you think about it.
In the beginning I believed that this idea had some good intentions, I mean you're giving them something they can use for the future(or right now) just by doing work in tutoring, but this idea has some loop holes. Some students see that if they just show up for some time then they'll get their share of the money and be on their way, other students, not in the program, would just normally study without any kind of bribery. I believe that this was a good attempt at getting students to study and do better but it would be better suited if the students were able to achieve better grades THEN get their share of the money for the time they spent being tutored.
I think that this progam has upsides and downsides. It's great that they're getting kids to study and apply themselves to raise they're grades, yet, you wonder how the kids that get straight A's for free feel about it.
Ithink that kids gwtting paid to study is both a good and bad idea. I think it is bad because I think they they shouldn't get paid to sutdy, Ithink they should just study. I think it is a good idea because atleast they are studying.
if i get paid to go to school i will go forever but i have to get $10.00 per our
The only reason that the program showed any success is because the kidsknew that if the people studieing it didn't notice a significant difference the program would be scrapped. If I was being piad to study i would do the same thing. By actually trying, the kids belive that the program would look like a success and then it would continue and they can keep getting $$. Thats all that any of the kids in the program care about, belive me, I would know. I went around school and asked some of my fellow students why they would if they would join the program. The results: 92.4% said they would do it just for the $$ and that doesn't include the portion that would do it for multiple reasons that included the money.
its a unique opportunity to study and you get rewarded however the issue thats in debate (should they get paid) is contorvesial they worked but what about the billions of students who work hard with no pay-check!?!?!?!!?!? Just because its turned around a couple of flunkers doesnt mean poo. I'm glad to hear its private and not our tax dollars. As a recent grad of havard. Plz put this on the show!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂
i agree with Stay-C ur so right bro!!!!!!!!!! rock the house!
I still don't think it is right for a person to be paid for studying. Even though the people who went said that they only did it because they need help I still think there is something wrong with it. I know in the back of their minds they are thinking I would of never went if it wasn't for the money. I MEAN EVERYBODY LIKES MONEY!
I think paying students to study is a horrible idea. I mean, yeah, people like money, but then afterward when they don't get paid they stop because they want some kind of incentive to keep studying. And what about the people who work hard to begin with? What do they get?
I still think this a bad idea. What about the students that already work hard? Do they get something? And the students that get paid might not work once they don't get paid anymore. What's the point?
Well if your getting paid to do what your supposed to do then congratulations what are ya gonna do start saving for college? You'll really need it. Anymore if you dont get a scholarship you cant afford collge. Its too expensive. The kids who do what their not getting paid to do deserve the scholarships. Not the ones who get money for studying. It's like telling them "Go study and you can blow this money on whatever you want and you will get a scholarship to a school that another child that doesnt get paid needs"
I think that the whole idea is dumb because of two reasons.
Number one is that now that it is over the kids will not be motivated any more to do well in school.
Number two, its not fair that students who are already hard workers dont get paid like that. Basically its giving the idea that you should do bad in school so you can get paid to be tutored.
p.s. my class watches, take notes, and do the quiz for current events class and we really enjoy it. we are mr.miller's class and we just wanted to say hi!
It is not fair that they get payed and we don't !!!
I thinks is a GREAT idea.. I would love to get paid to get good grades and learn more.. For the kids who already get good grade well you dont need it then.
i think it not fair. it should be offered to all kids in the school. and not just to be they but for grades
I think that getting paid to study is a stupid thing to do! If they stop the program, that means that maybe they'll stop studying, and pay to square one.
i think that getting paid to study is a bad idea cuz kids who already study for NO money are probably going to not study so they can get paid TO study.
And i like cheese 🙂
Paying students to study is a ridiculous idea. You either sink or float in this world, so there is no reason to offer a reward to somebody that should be studying off his or her own motivation to begin with.
i think that getting paid to go to school is a bad idea because what is going to happen when students willl have to pay to go to college. sure its a good motavation to go to school and learn but you can only bribe kids for so long
i think its dumb to get paid for your studing!!! the only thing i get paid for is my job and my grades!! i work hard for the grades i get. i dont get paid to study...why should they?
some kids need a little encouragement and it's going to be different for everyone so i don't agree or disagree as long as the kids understand and are doing well in school
its not fair at all if were to do that they should pay everyone who makes good grades not just to the people who made bad grades and then improved
I think it's a bad method. Studying is every student's duty. We can help them wih the financial difficulties. We can give them more oppertunities and better environment to complete their education. But we can't use money as encouragement. It will mislead them. They will ignore that knowledge is the best reward.
I really don't think it is a good idea for kids to get paid to study. Because what do the kids who actually study on there own time and do their work, what do they get paid?
I think that getting paid to study is a good idea because then kids would want to study more and they would learn about the subject they study and understand it more!!!!! I wish i could get paid to study!!!!!!!!!
i think that is a good idea. it can modivate kids to study more. heck, they might start to get into that habbit
i think paying kids to study is a really bad idea because the kids only do it for the money.and its no fair for the other students that arent getting paid.
I don't think it is fair for kids to get paid for getting good grades, it is still child labor like chores, but you are studying.
I think that the idea of being paid to study is kind of... not smart. These kids should already study and do their homework. Sure, they may need the money to help with things at home and all, but still! All I get when I get good grades (B+ and higher) is a pat on the back. Not $10! The idea is kind of mean to the students that don't need help with homework but do need extra cash.
If someone paid me to study then heck yes i would study all the time. I think its a good way to get kids motivated and i bet grades are alot better!