AJC.com > Opinion > Opinion Talk > Archives > 2008 > May > 05 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USPaying students to study?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Is it a good idea to pay disadvantaged students in Fulton County schools $8 an hour to study? The woman behind the Learn and Earn program says she’s not certain it will work. But Jackie Cushman is sure that it’s worth a try: “We have only started, but it is a good start.” Read her essay here.
A Georgia State professor, meanwhile, calls Learn and Earn a “sincere but misguided attempt.” Richard Lakes, an expert in educational policy, writes that Learn and Earn “serves not to build up a marginalized subgroup of kids but to hold them down, to reinforce their roles as members of the servant class in the new economy.” Read his essay here.
What do you think?
Permalink | Comments (9) | Categories: Forum
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By JJ
May 5, 2008 11:27 AM | Link to this
I don’t agree with paying studenst to learn. Where will they develop a sense of personal responsibility. I will admit however, the extra money would go a long way for some disadvantaged students and their famalies. I would like to see college students paired with a middle or high school student who is having grade problems. The college students could then earn extra credits toward their degree while performing a much needed service. This would benefit both students just as the big brother, big sister programs have.
By bubbatech02
May 5, 2008 11:28 AM | Link to this
first
By SICOFUVICKHATRS
May 5, 2008 12:34 PM | Link to this
Disadvantage students would be made responsible if they were to pay for their own lunch and pay dues that would put the money back into school. This will also help them realize that thier education is in their own hands. What will really benefit these kid would be conselors that would lead them into the right direction instead of just filling in gaps with classes that are not relevant to educational purposes. Therefore, I am in an agreement to see how these underpriveledge students would handle themselves and show how much an education will benefit their lives just as a job would if they were to be in an work enviornment.
By red
May 5, 2008 1:01 PM | Link to this
Great idea to try. Especially with private funds.
I get up and drag my butt to work each day for a paycheck. I do not do it out of some personal since of responsibility.
Most of the kids in a program like this are probably no where near being able to see a correlation between grades and earning potential 15-20 years down the road.
This could very well establish that link that those who are more well off take as a given.
By p
May 5, 2008 1:31 PM | Link to this
bad idea, unless you want to pay MY kids $8 an hour to study
By Retired
May 5, 2008 3:17 PM | Link to this
I am making up signs for a new “street” business. The signs say: “Will Learn for Money”. In fact, I’m ready to sign up for this deal right now. I’ll bet it’s a better deal than being a WalMart greeter. Where do I sign up at? I’d love to get paid to learn.
By chris
May 5, 2008 3:37 PM | Link to this
Wow, what a great job this will do for removing any last grain of intrinsic motivation that may exist within these kids!
Sorry, but the knowledge that I picked up at school and in college was worth way more than any dollar amount that someone might try to attach to it. Of course, with as much studying as I did, I could have been a millionaire by the age of 18 with a program like this.
My motivation? Get the heck out of Clayton County. I think that it’s pretty obvious as to why if you’re up to date on current events.
By proud2bfromcalifornia
May 5, 2008 4:24 PM | Link to this
I live here in Atlanta but went to school in California and graduated in 1988. If they could please back pay me for going to school for nothing it will be greatly appreciated. Let’s see $8 bucks an hour times oh let’s see a GAZILLION hours. Call it $15 million and we are even. Give me a break, listen up people this is why people outside of this state think of Georgians as ignorant.
By Old Physics Teacher
May 5, 2008 5:22 PM | Link to this
Sigh, Here We Go Again!! It seems like every 20-30 years we forget how we got where we are, and we try to reinvent the wheel. Two guys (named E.L. Deci and R. M. Ryan) have written tons of papers on the topic of motivation and self-esteem. Why don’t we actually go back and look at why we have such a screwed-up education system before we file off the serial numbers and put a coat of paint onto old, usless, worthless ideas that didn’t work the first time. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
How about some new ideas: Like:
Let little Johnny quit in the 6th grade and go get a job? After working 8 hours a day, 5 days a week for minimum wages, he might be interested in coming back to school with the intent on bettering himself. It might take a few years for Johnny to realize this, but that’s OK, too. Not everybody learns at the same rate!
When little Johnny comes to school without his books, paper and pencil, send him home until he brings them back! Results? - see above.
After little Johnny has acted up in class for two weeks straight, send him home for the rest of the session/semester/year. Let him come back next session/semester/year and see if he has “improved.” He’ll be behind, but (say it with me) not everyone learns at the same rate.
Rats, what am I thinking? I expect people to hold themselves accountable. How out of touch with reality am I?