User Comments

1. 

   9/29/08

   Shiley

   It's a good idea but in an odd way it's sad. No one pays me for what I do. I practically stalk my son's teacher trying to find out what he needs. For the kids the reward system is cool. They don't get the big picture. "If I get good grades now I can go to college..." They do get the little picture, small rewards.

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   1. 

      9/29/08

      EXZombie

      Shiley, I gotta agree with you. While this project might have some short-term sucess I predict it'll have no effect once they dont have a reward systems.
      
      I say we save our tax dollars and stop public schooling once 8th is over. At that point you've learned all the math and English you need to get by, Your choices at that point is either enter the job market part-time or earn your way into High School like you would college.
      
      You would save so much time that way too. Alot of High Schools just waste your time by filling your head with trivial things. The stuff you do learn is really only helpful if you are seeking to go into something that would need knowledge of that subject.
      
      This country though seems to think that teaching your kids trivial things is a right even though you KNOW they'll just end up working in some sort of service job where most training is taught on-site.
2. 

   9/29/08

   EXZombie

   Wow. We're really screwed. Countries in Asia have overcrowded schools where good grades are a must and their English is getting better and better every decade.
   
   Meanwhile we have to offer tote bags and money to parents for them to pay attention. That plus we make the work easier so they can pass.

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3. 

   9/29/08

   ekim941

   You can't be serious. This has to be the dumbest idea ever.
   I can actually envision people have more kids because the school system will write them a check.

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4. 

   9/29/08

   MadameX

   I have mixed feelings about this. It's clearly outrageous. And yet, what kids need is not happening. I think my inclination would be to go the other way and make it hurt not to show up rather than pay TO show up, but something has to be done. I'm continually amazed by the help that kids don't get and the number of parents who never put in an appearance at school. I'm a single mother with a WAY more than full-time job and freelancing on the side, but somehow I seem to have more time to help the neighborhood kids with their homework, listen to their problems, and gather them up to do something fun than their own parents do. Paying them probably seems more politically correct than the cattle prod that's really in order.

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   1. 

      9/29/08

      EXZombie

      We're just making a new wave of super cry babies. First we make sports "fair" as to not hurt kids feelings and now we are giving bribes? What next? Instant A's? Oh wait, Thats right, Some schools already have done this too.
   2. 

      9/29/08

      MadameX

      They have, indeed. But what it seems like they HAVEN'T done is create a system that actually helps kids who are having trouble or who lack motivation to LEARN rather than just get a pat on the head to keep them feeling good.
5. 

   9/29/08

   sdk1988

   Wow, everything is for sale these days. Why should we get paid to do a job that we took, knowing the monetary salary was zero, zip, nada!

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6. 

   9/29/08

   ekim941

   Here's a better Idea:
   
   Start with a simple questionnaire.
   
   #1) What was your childs homework assignment last night.
   
   #2) What happened on the last episode of desperate housewives.
   
   Any parent that can't answer #1 but can answer #2 should pay a fine to the school to pay for tutoring

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7. 

   9/29/08

   EXZombie

   I was thinking about something, We really do spoil everyone in this country except for the midclass people who work and those who really need it.
   
   Here's an example: Prisons.
   
   Cable TV, Dating, PPVs, Free Gyms, No Rent, No Bills, Free Meals, Stuff brought in from family members like food and magazines, Free Tattoos, Free Education, Plenty of time for your hobbies......... If you can avoid the violence and rape it's pretty much no worse than having to go to work 40 hours a week. All that costs you more as a tax payer than what a person working two minimum wage jobs makes in a year.
   
   Spoiled we are, I swears.

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8. 

   9/29/08

   jadedconformist

   Yeah - this is a silly idea. What ever happened to learning being the ultimate reward? Man, I have to tell you - The U.S. is in deep trouble as far as our future goes. We are up against countries with multi-lingual constituents, and that's the norm, not the exception. We're suffering in math and science, among other things. This isn't pretty...we're in for a surprise

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9. 

   9/29/08

   faithsju243

   Wait I thought learning was supposed to be it's own reward????

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10. 

    9/29/08

    jafabrit

    I would have to wonder what value's it is teaching them and what the consequences of those values would be?
    It doesn't sit well with me and seems to be a band aid solution that really doesn't address why this situation exists in the first place. Maybe it would be better to pay for free birth control so these people don't have children that they can't be bothered with.

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    1. 

       9/29/08

       EXZombie

       The thing is that adults these days are no better than kids. We make excuses for everything. They just expect these kids to take care of themselves while focusing on their own life.
    2. 

       9/29/08

       jafabrit

       then paying them isn't the answer, that's for sure.