I've been following Michelle Rhee, Chancellor for D.C. schools, because it seems to me that she is a risk taker and forward thinker.  Interestingly, D.C. schools are going to start rewarding middle schoolers (3,000 of the little critters) for coming to school--with $100 cold hard cash for each 2 weeks students attend.  Interesting, I say, because I agree that these are the years that tend to make or break it for many middle schoolers--whether they find their way to high school or to the hard-knock life... 

But it also seems to me that the connections that high-risk kids make at this age, with mentors and role models, is the most likely variable in keeping them in school (I have not read any research in this area--just a gut feeling).  So I'm wondering how cash in the pockets of high-risk kids will translate into appreciation for academia.  It seems that cash in hand is a start, but certainly won't be enough alone to change old habits--and then again...  Like I said, interesting...

"They have a lot of incentives to do the wrong thing outside of school, and what we need to do is counterbalance that," Rhee said.

I'm not sure how many kids who tend to "do the wrong things outside of school" will spend their money, but $200 could translate to some trendy clothes for some kids or drugs and alcohol for others...  What should tax payers be subsidizing?  I'm not sure what the parameters are, but hopefully students are being held responsible for attendance as well as their effort in class...  And ultimately, how will D.C. measure whether this model is a success or failure?

Don't get me wrong, add another $200 to my paycheck a month, and I probably wouldn't miss a day either--but I'm also a pretty responsible person.  Will the cash make the difference?  I'm guessing not--parents, teachers, coaches, and administrators might--so hopefully they can piggyback of off this reward process to help these 3,000 targeted kids make the right choices and keep them in school. 


 


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