Re: NY Times editorial in FAVOR of paying kids for tests?

[aburke5054@aol.com]

Unbelievable as it sounds, somehow Americans manage to pay children to 
trim their lawns, babysit their kids, and take out their garbage 
without corrupting society or causing epidemics.  I seriously doubt 
that if we gives kids bucks for doing something in school the end times 
will be upon us.

Art

-----Original Message-----
From: MONICALUCIDO@comcast.net
To: arn-l@interversity.org
Cc: ca-resisters@interversity.org
Sent: Tue, 5 Feb 2008 4:37 pm
Subject: Re: [arn-l] NY Times editorial in FAVOR of paying kids for 
tests?

And so I say to you all, and I believe this is a legit argument, does 
this not
start to skirt on the edges of child labor laws? It seems to me like 
they are
paying children to work hard in school, and as a result of that then it 
would
behoove those poorer kids to stay in school to earn money for their 
families.
Then private firms could say, "WE did it! Hooray! WE solved the great 
motivation
mystery. That's all the kids wanted---cold, hard cash." Contractors 
would get
control of tax payer money, and then do what they will with 
it----without
oversight. Does this not lead one down the path, then, to think about 
the
possibility that the "awards" would start at an enticing level and then 
over the
years be reduced in smaller amounts, such that the "controlling" 
leadership got
to keep more for itself? Kids, who then relied on the money over the 
years for
their families, could then be threatened in the negative: "Get your 
scores up,
or you will not get your 'pay check'." This is a hi
ghly l
ikely circumstance and the pressure on children would become enormous 
not only
for learning, but for family survival in some cases. Students and their 
families
would become dependent over time on these funds (which to THEM would 
mean
economic freedom).  Ultimately, the grip of corporations who are tied 
into these
private run charters and schools, would be unbreakable as tax dollars 
were fully
under their grasp. No one would be able to challenge their standardized
test-teaching methods, which creates NON-THINKING consumers and VOTERS. 
True
school choice or vision for parents would be obliterated, as the 
ultimate goal
would have been reached: to own our public school system and create a 
new
low-level, cheap, working class-----with poor children making up the 
bulk of the
victims.

Joe Lucido
Eduators and Parents Against Test Abuse
Fresno
-------------- Original message ----------------------
From: Kenneth Bernstein <kber@earthlink.net>
>
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/04/AR2008020402430.
> html
>
> here's the text:
>
> Performance Pay
> Baltimore students will get cash to learn.
>
> Tuesday, February 5, 2008; A18
>
> THERE ARE a lot of good reasons children should want to do well in 
school. Joy

> in learning, going to college, getting a better job, living a richer 
life are
> tops. Those arguments, though, haven't worked with many -- in 
particular
poorer
> -- children. Too often they see education as irrelevant, even a waste 
of time.

> Would cash change their minds and their habits? That notion is behind 
a
proposal
> making headlines in Maryland, and, despite all the raised eyebrows, 
it's worth

> trying.
>
> Baltimore city schools have gotten permission from the state to spend 
nearly
$1
> million to pay students (up to $110 per student per subject) who 
attend
tutoring
> sessions and show progress. The program targets students who have 
failed the
> high school assessments that, starting with the class of 2009, will 
be needed
> for a diploma. The financial incentives are but one component of a 
$6.3
million
> initiative that is, as the Baltimore Sun reported, a mixed bag of 
traditional
> and nontraditional ideas being advanced by new schools chief Andres 
Alonso.
The
> plan, a first for Maryland and among a handful nationwide, has caused 
an
uproar
> with critics who see the money as little more than bribes that are 
unlikely to

> have any lasting effect on student behavior. They could be right, but 
it's
clear
> that the traditional methods simply have not worked with some 
students from
> low-income families. Besides, it strikes us as a bit hypocritical for 
people
who
> see nothing wrong with rewarding their children's school performance 
with
> dinners out, trips abroad and even new cars to pick apart a program 
that
> attempts to deal with the real word of urban education.
>
> The reality of Baltimore city schools is that more than 5,000 
students have
> already failed at least one of the graduation exams. Reality is the 
nation's
> third-worst graduation rate, an appalling 34 percent. Reality is many 
students

> not being able to get extra help in school because they have to hold 
down a
job
> or take care of younger siblings. Mr. Alonso is bringing new ideas 
and energy
to
> this long-troubled system. He comes from New York City, which is 
piloting a
> program that gives financial incentives to fourth- and 
seventh-graders. Both
New
> York and Baltimore will evaluate their programs, and those outcomes 
-- not any

> philosophical discomfort -- should determine whether there is merit 
in the pay

> plans.
>
> Kenneth J. Bernstein







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