Money for going to school?

        With deplorable student performance, it seems reasonable that the D.C. school system will pursue unconventional incentives for students to increase productivity and to radically change the way in which this antiquated political system has been malfunctioning for the past several decades.  
     
    Unfortunately, rather than introducing initiatives that promote parental involvement, and emphasizing student responsibility, the school Chancellor Michelle Rhee, DC Mayor Adrian Fenty and Harvard University economist Roland Freyer have introduced a plan that would pay kids to attend school and perform exceptionally.  Although she brings a new dynamic to the school system, especially with her ambitious plan to change the way in which the tenure rules have been executed, Rhee’s plan is not only senseless, it is a complete waste of money.
 
    On Aug. 7 Mayor Adrian Fenty announced a plan that would potentially give middle school students from 14 randomly chosen schools $100 every other week for coming to class, following the rules and meeting certain academic goals.  The program should cost about $2.7 million, which will be paid by both the DC Public school system and Harvard University.
  
    This program, also called “Capital Gains” is nothing more than a superficial answer to a problem that is very deep; simply paying the kids to attend school will not fix the fact that a majority of these kids live in dysfunctional homes and neighborhoods where drug dealing as a norm.  Giving the students money will only deepen the breach because many teenagers, will not spend their money on books but will rather spend money on things that seem “cool.”
 
    Additionally, this method is not fully proven to work, it is nothing more than an experiment pilot program that Fryer and others wish to try.  As a matter of fact, Fryer has a record of conducting controversial experiments dealing with the school system.  He examined whether different racial groups have a common genetic gene when it comes to academic performance, and whether or not segregation in school is a “bad thing.”  This new “Capitol Gains” program is nothing more than a study he wishes to pursue, and putting 3,000 middle school students in the middle of this is just bizarre and ridiculous.  There is much more to this than scientific research and that is the lesson we wish to teach to these kids.
    
    If this program had been a success in previous scenarios, then the debate might be some-what reasonable.  However, reports from a New York City “pay-incentive” program illustrates that this program has no guarantees.  In New York, high school students were offered $1,000 if they scored high marks on Advanced Placement tests.  While more students took the tests, they actually scored lower than those who took it before this initiative was in place.  Even if students were performing better, paying them is just a waste of funds.  How about putting money in a college fund or more practically, pay for books, better teachers, and upgrade the school facilities?
    
    As a graduate of  the DCPS middle school system, I have seen the appalling conditions of the facilities and the old text books that were provided.  Many of the teachers were not qualified and skipping school was a “normal” tradition.  Many of my peers did not really understand the value of the dollar and to suddenly give them money so readily will bring unexpected results, many of which might have negative consequences.
     
    Many of us would like to get paid for driving under the speed limit or handling ourselves in an acceptable manner in public.  But we also understand that as “human beings”who are part of this sophisticated society, there are certain expectations.  In this case, the kids not only receive a FREE education, they are given free lunches and in some cases, much more.  It is true, middle school is a critical period for many kids, and not only for academics, but also for moral lessons.  If we instill in these kids that they should expect to be paid for things they are privileged to receive, then what kind of message are we sending?  
   
    More than 300 million kids in the world never receive a middle school education and they would do anything to receive such an education, and it is unfortunate that we have to bribe kids to attend school in this country.  This is an embarrassment not only for the current condition of the school systems but also for the entire society.