by Marlin Bressi

Created on: November 26, 2008

In the business world, outstanding work is often rewarded with promotions or bonuses. Therefore it only logical that students be rewarded in a similar fashion for their academic achievements. While some argue for cash rewards for those who attain high grades and test scores, I believe that there are better ways to reward students for their scholastic accomplishments.

The problem with handing out cash or prizes is that the reward is not long-lasting; it amounts to nothing more than instant gratification. This reward system can also foster feelings of resentment towards students who are "over-achievers", and can actually be quite demoralizing to students who do not perform well on tests and exams. While I firmly believe that academic excellence should be rewarded, I believe that there are more effective and practical ways to compensate students than with immediate cash prizes.

For a cash-based reward system to be effective, the student should not be able to spend the money until they have graduated. The best way to ensure that the money is not spent foolishly, while at the same time teaching the student about financial responsibility, would be to establish a type of savings account. The S.S.A. (scholastic savings account) begins when a student enters high school as a freshman, and a student will be able to accumulate money throughout their high school career as a reward for high grades, test scores, extra-curricular activities, attendance, and other achievements. This money will be placed in an interest-bearing account which cannot be accessed directly by the student without parental consent. There is only one catch: the money in the account can only be used towards college tuition.

This system would encourage students to work towards a long-term goal, rather than to offer them instant gratification. It would help out families who cannot afford college tuition. It would also increase attendance and decrease the drop-out rate among students, since any money and interest accrued by a student will be forfeited in the event that the student fails to graduate. This system will also encourage students to behave appropriately, since money can also be taken out of their S.S.A. in the form of "penalties" for bad behavior or poor attendance.

Ultimately, colleges and universities can use a student's S.S.A. statement in place of SAT scores as a pre-requisite for enrollment because a student's S.S.A. statement would be a much better indicator of performance and achievement than a standardized test. Unlike SAT scores, these account statements provide a picture of how a student has performed over a four year period, not just how they performed in one day of standardized testing. It also presents a clear picture of a student's behavior, attitude, and willingness to participate in extra-curricular activities; factors which are taken into consideration by college admission offices.

As you can see, this reward system would be a fair and effective way to reward academic excellence, as well as providing an incentive to graduate, act responsibly, and attend college. This concept would also do away with an outdated system of standardized testing, while revolutionizing the college admissions process. Quite simply, this program can be the solution to many of our nation's educational woes.

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