Did you know that some school districts are paying kids for good grades?!  Some districts are even paying kids an hourly rate to study!  Many of these programs are privately funded and target struggling school and low-income students.

In New York students who perform highly are awarded a cell phone and then can earn ringtones, minutes and music downloads by turning in homework and participating in class.

Whatever happened to the intrinsic love of learning?  Oh please!  It's probably in the same place as the intrinsic love of work?  Do you work for free?  I didn't think so...

What is the matter with paying kids for grades?  Don't middle-class parents do it all the time? They buy their kids rewards for good grades all the time.  These programs aim to reward low income kids in the same way middle and upper class kids are.

Some studies conclude that cash and prizes may boost compliance in the short term, over time they often decrease students' interest in the tasks for which the kids are being rewarded, and may even decrease interest in activities that don't win them anything.

I help primary teachers create "play money" for use in the classroom.  They use this money not to reward kids for good grades but to reward them for good behavior and effort.  I think this is a great system as long as the teachers are not taking money away from kids.  I mean, if this is to somewhat simulate realy life, when your boss is mad at you he does not take money away from you, he just withholds future money.  The kids earn money all week and usually get to visit a little store at the end of the week and purchase some sort of trinket with their earnings.  My first grade son is in a classroom that uses this system and absolutely loves it.

In the end, I believe that this "money for grades" system at the high school level is great.  I believe it's money well spent.  However, I think its important to only pay for improvement, not achievement.  It's tough to say but I don't think we should be paying a 3.8 student for maintaining a 3.8 GPA, the money should be used for students who improve their GPA's.