I remember the first time my parents pitched the idea to me. I was entering the fourth grade, and they sat me down. An A would earn me two dollars, a B would earn me one, and a C would get me grounded (that wasn’t part of the pitch, but it was implied). It didn’t really motivate me over the course of the semester; the reward came too long after most of the work was done. The idea was that school was my job. They, my parents, went to work; I went to school. I must admit that I never actually bought into that, not even in college.

Meanderings down memory lane aside, the question is: Should we reward children for academic achievement?

Punitive Measures: Don’t Give Me that “Do Goody Good” Lecture
The whip has been a motivational tool for ages, but using it on children is frowned upon. If a child grows up avoiding bad grades because they’ll be punished for them, what happens when college comes around? Either the training will hold and the student will remain disciplined, or no more punishment will mean no more good grades. Some punishment techniques are better than others at getting the message through, and if that message doesn’t get through, all you’re doing is making angry people.

Rewards: Money, It’s a Gas
Positive reinforcement for good grades is easier to keep up once students enter adult life, which gives it an advantage. Again, though, the rationale–that aforementioned message– is what’s important. Thankfully, we live in a society that rewards doing well almost all the time. The transition from five dollars for getting an A to a great paycheck for working your butt off in college is an easy one. The consumer impulse (”I got a raise! I’m going to buy a boat!” or  what have you) could be a little dangerous, but any student who got good grades should be able to think that one out.

The studies show it: students like working for money. Imagine that.