by Effie Moore Salem

Created on: June 22, 2007   Last Updated: June 13, 2008

Absolutely not. High grades and excellence are the rewards for hard work and will mean success after graduation. Schools are already over the limit where money is concerned and it should be downplayed if 'no child is to be left behind'. Why should school districts over burden themselves by giving rewards to those with high grades and test scores. The reward should be in the learning process and the excellent report cards and the other accolades that go into excellence in education.

To give monetary rewards for excellence in education will only be compounding the problem of making money a substitution for everything worthwhile in the world. No one owes a person anything for learning that is to benefit the person. It is a preparation for a better life. It is what the student pays for, and is not paid to do.

Of course children will be left behind, no two are created equal in ambition, ability, or desire. Yet, in spite of this reality, every effort should be made to see that students learn according to their situation: If too poor for supplies, supply these; if uninterested, search for ways of keeping him alert to what is taking place in the classroom.

But, leave money out of the incentives for achievement. Haven't we been pushing the money envelope too far, too fast, for too many years? In its place add recognition, respect and the potential of getting a good job. Who would argue that the field of education has enough problems these days teaching the children anything and to make them beholden to pay those who study and do a good job is well above my comprehension.

Actually, giving money for getting good grades is degrading to honest and hard working students. It somehow takes away the satisfaction of doing a good job. It would be like saying to the student if you do a good job and study and make good grades and show us up favorably we will give you a bonus.

Maybe I am going on and on padding this article on education to bring it up to the four hundred word amount that it must be, but I have at least a reason and I am not saying anything I don't believe, I am only repeating myself again and again to get in the necessary words. Now telling the truth here is not exactly like using Cliff notes in College to cram for exams when I have not read a Shakespeare play that I should have read, or copying from others or anything like that. It certainly is being done because I am expecting pay for doing this. But then were I doing it for those reasons, I am not in school. When I was, no one paid me for my good grades. All I heard was warnings when they were bad. Well whatever, with my two cents worth I hope I pass the word minimum length. (I did with ninety-two left over!)

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