Argumentative Essay
Many of my peers have told me that their parents pay them a dollar for every A that they receive on their report card. That concept of paying students for high grades has spread across the nations. Schools now use cash to motivate students to do well in school. Though yes, this is effective, but is it right? Has this truly benefited the students as much as we think it does? The answer to both questions is no. It takes away a child’s natural desire to learn, it doesn’t work out in the long run, and it ruins teacher-student relationships. Paying students for high grades is a terrible idea because it takes away a child’s intrinsic motivation, creates conflict between students and teachers, and doesn’t work out in the long run.
To begin with, it takes away a child’s natural desire to learn. Psychologists Bob Brooks and Sam Goldstein state that,
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That or those who struggle financially. John Hopkins University claims, “Paying students for grades seemed to improve attendance amongst both low achieving and lower to middle class students.” Even if it does show improvement, Brooks and Goldstein go on to say, “Our education system has determined that students who struggle need a greater degree of external motivation to stay engaged in academic tasks.” This means that using money is a successful motivational source, but it doesn’t work by itself. Students need more than just cash to push them to do their best. There are other more potent motives than just money. Every student is different, so each one has their own personal motive. One who has low income parents may want to strive to receive a high job, and teachers can try to explain that in the future colleges and companies want people with a high academic background. As you can see, paying students as a reward is not as beneficial as one may