Motivation Solution: Pay them?

Motivation Solution: Pay them to learn?

How can we motivate students to learn? To achieve this goal, the Atlanta Georgia “learn to earn” program pays each students eight dollars an hour to motivate them to learn math and science. Is this a good solution to the “low motivation, high dropping out” problem, our students’ reactions towards this varied from “yes” to “no.”

Yes, but…

I could say that paying students to learn would be a good option in order to keep them in school because it works as a reflection of their future jobs, but at the same time education is not meant to provide financial benefits, it is meant to improve the cultural and intellectual development of students—Forest, Feb 2, 2008, EDCI 4322-60

…for students that have to work to help pay bills, I think it is ok to pay them to go to school. This program could work if you restrict it from the ones who do not really need it.-- Cavin, Jan 30, 2008, EDCI 4322-60

As a future educator we have to in still in your young children the meaning and the value of money and that we all have to work hard to make money and value what we do to earn that money. I might be wrong but this is my opinion, I too am a parent. I would not like for my child to be paid to attend school. I would like for the child to earn money for school so he/ she could use to pay for college. That I would like.--Sally, Jan 25, 2008, EDCI 4322-01

No

As much as I would love to get paid for learning, I don't think that it is right. If anything it can lead to more problems, in terms of being dishonest academically. Plus, there is the fact that some people pay for their education and these students are getting paid to learn. It might affect them outside of school too. They may always be looking for some type of a cash reward for doing something good.—Daniel, Jan 29, 2008, EDCI 4322-01

As for paying students to learn, I believe a lot of people will do things for money, but I do not think education should be one. I believe educators should be paid more, because of the long hours that must be put in to accomplish the goal of teaching. Students must want to learn for self-fulfilling reasons, not for outside reasons.—Irina, Jan 25, 2008, EDCI 4322-01

In my opinion I don’t think we can pay students because I do think that the school district should do something to create how to develop to improve for a better curriculum and strategies for students’ academic success.-- Luz Martinez, Jan 24, 2008, EDCI 4322-01

In my opinion, paying students to learn is not an effective way to stimulate education. Like Dr. Boyanton mentioned, an opportunity to an education is a privilege and not a chore.—Homer, Feb 1, 2008, EDCI 4322-60

I really don't feel that students should be getting paid to attend school. This is where the system is going backwards. Don't the schools get monies for having their students attend class? What, are we giving them a piece of the pie? I suppose that is motivating, but is it a solution? I don't think so.—Red, Jan 30, 2008, EDCI 4322-01

I don't believe that we should have to pay students so that they can learn. This idea is controversial, because students are already given so much enrichment from a free education. As Hillary Clinton has said, 'It takes a village,' and it truly does.-- Maricela Gonzalez, Jan 25, 2008, EDCI 4322-01

I don’t believe students should get pay for something that it’s already rewarding. Having an education is for the students own good and they should do it for the sense of accomplishment.--Helen, Jan 28, 2008, EDCI 4322-01

I think that we should never get to the point of the student getting paid for learning. Learning is a privilege that we have to learn to appreciate it. There are many countries out there that would love to be like us in a country where education is free, yet like many other thing we do not realize what we have till we no longer have it.--Melody Barrera February 3, 2008

I do not think we should pay students. I think it sends the wrong message. The students would go for the wrong reasons. Instead, let's add a little flavor (salt) to our lessons, and let us show a strong commitment to our students and correlate with their parents, so that our students will thirst after knowledge.—Eldon, Clark, Feb 4, 2008, EDCI 4322-60

NO!

NO, we should not pay them to learn. What values are we instilling in these young minds? We’re teaching them that they’ll get paid if they do what the education system wants. We’re giving in to their childish ways and immature attitude. They should go to school to learn and to better themselves, not because they’re getting paid to do so. Getting an education is a privilege that they should learn to appreciate.—Shirley, Jan 28, 2008, EDCI 4322-01

I DO NOT think that paying them to learn is a good thing to go thru with. They already get a free education and as we all know it is costly to give people free education. We have people all over the world that wish for that opportunity of a free education. I think that we are only rewarding them for something that they should want on their own. And even further who is to say that they are learning anything?! They may just be attending and working the minimum to get a check. And in the end what have they learned…nothing just that is they hold out long enough they will get rewarded for something they should have wanted on their own.-- Ry* Feb 1, 2008, EDCI 4322-60

Students can be paid to learn, BUT IT SHOULD NEVER HAVE TO COME DOWN TO THAT! Paying students to learn is completely unethical because children in many poor, war-torn countries cannot attend school because they can’t afford it, it’s too dangerous, or it’s forbidden to attend. These children would give anything to be in a classroom. Free education is a true gift which should not be wasted, especially on ungrateful children that have to be paid in order to learn and that fail to realize the opportunities that they are given in this country.-- Juanita Torres, Jan 29, 2008, EDCI 4322-60

Paying students to learn is simply ridiculous. It's sad that today's generation doesn't value education like people did many years ago.—Rose, Jan 25, 2008, EDCI 4322-01

On paying them to learn I think is ridiculous! It’s for their own benefits to learn. How effective is this really? Are they learning or memorizing just to get paid and get out?—Hilda, Jan 28, 2008, EDCI 4322-01

To learn more about Low Motivation, High Dropping Out

Low Motivation, High Dropping Out-- Understanding ...
Demotivator 1: The Individual
Demotivator 2: The Teachers
Demotivator 3: The Parents
Demotivator 4: Education System
Demotivator 5: The Environment
Motivation Solution: Pay them?
Motivation Solution 1 & 2: The Individual & Parent...
Motivation Solution 3: The Teachers
Motivation Solution 4: Education Policy