Stumble it!

Remember how your mom would give some candy or a star sticker every time you excelled in school education? Some U.S. school districts are starting to implement that philosophy; except they are dealing with cold, hard cash. In Baltimore for example, a student can earn up $110 for improving his or her score on state wide exams. The states of Arkansas, Alabama, Connecticut, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Virginia and Washington have taken this idea one step further. The school systems for these states will dish out $100 to a student for each passing grade in a college prep class. Some studies have begun to support this initiative. Studies have revealed that Texas is showing remarkable results in students SAT and ACT scores. Texans are also witnessing an 8% rise for students planning to attend higher learning. The man in charge of the seven state programs is a gentleman by the name of Gregg Fleisher. He claims that “It’s an incentive to get them to basically make the right decision and choose a more rigorous class.” But this initiative has endured its fair share of criticism. “It’s a strategy that helps only around the edges,” claims Thomas Toch of the Education Sector. Some critics have even gone as far as calling the payout for grades “no better than bribes.” Bob Schaeffer of the National Center for Fair & Open Testing believes that this type of short term thinking is similar in many ways to an athlete using steroids. Regardless of the merits, if you find yourself in a school district participating in the program, there is money to be had. If you’re a parent, this may be a great way to save on some allowance money. For high school students, you could kill two birds with one proverbial stone. Parents want higher grades? Now you have something to strive for. Parents harassing you about getting a job? This qualifies as one as well. Remember, the first $100 is just a “D” away. While this system could have great short term benefits for students and educators alike, the jury is still out on the long term repercussions it might entail.