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Home > Clayton.Talk > Archives > 2008 > February > 04
Monday, February 4, 2008
Learn and earn in Clayton?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Fulton County has instituted a privately funded, 15-week pilot program that will pay 40 students to learn. This concept is the brainchild of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and his daughter, Jackie Cushman.
The eighth and 11th graders were selected based on attendance, grades, test scores and free or reduced lunch status.
Students will be paid $8/hour to study four hours per week after school.
Eighth-graders will receive a $75 bonus and 11th graders will get $125 if they improve their math and science grades to a B, and attain specific test scores. Eleventh graders could earn $605 per semester for doing what they should be doing anyway.
According to news reports, “The hope is that the bribes will boost students’ motivation to learn, attend class and get better grades.”
My first thought is this is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. Life just isn’t this simple, and we could be misleading our children to believe that it is.
However, those who support the program believe this will help poorer students who might choose to work at a minimum wage job over studying. They also contend that parents who can afford to do so have always rewarded their children in some way when they do well in school.
I would much prefer to see a learn and earn program similar to North Carolina’s. There, students attend high schools located on selected college campuses and in no more than five years earn their high school diploma. Students graduate with two years of college credit or earn an associate’s degree. All for free.
Would you want to see Learn and Earn happen in Clayton County Public Schools? Would you allow your child to participate?
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