CNN just covered a story where students in georgia are paid $8 an hour to study. At first i was like but then they interviewed the county commissioner Robb Pitts that backs the project and it actually seemed pretty insightfull. At first glance it seems like your just paying anystudent to study but this is a program offered to only a small group of low income students to study in the areas of math and science. The hope is to accomplish 3 goals 1) get kids interested and involved in the areas of math and science because as a nation we are losing ground to children in China and Asia, and 2) Taking kids from low income familys, that must often work minimum wage jobs to help support the family, and provide a means of assisting their family financially without sacrificing their schoolwork, and 3) help lower the dropout rate (mostly due to financial reasons)

CNN doesn't have the video clip on the website, or transcript of the interview that just played on CNN, but i did link another news article for some background. When the article comes up on CNN.com ill post it. I actually think its a unique approach to a problem, and that it stands a chance at helping the students its designed to assist. What do yall think, good idea, bad, other ideas??

Quote :

"ATLANTA (AP) -- Fulton County school officials will pay students to study after school in a new program designed to improve their classroom performance. The program called "Learn & Earn" is being offered to 40 students from Creekside High and Bear Creek Middle schools in Fairburn. The program will give students $8 an hour to study after school. The privately funded program also will offer cash bonuses to students who improve their in-school performance. School officials say the goal is to determine whether paying students to study will improve their performance. The 15-week trial program will be conducted with students in the eighth and 11th grades. Students were selected by school staff, based on attendance, grades, test scores and free or reduced-lunch status. "

http://www.13wmaz.com/news/state_story.aspx?storyid=48084

1/24/2008 6:44:58 PM

Can't really say anything about it until the results come in. I have no problem with sound experimentation to find policy that works.

1/24/2008 7:05:55 PM

i just asked because cnn is covering it from a very negative angle. One of the ancors repeatedly said "I dont agree with this, i just dont agree with this"

1/24/2008 7:19:54 PM

only "pays" a certain type of student. Does nothing to reward those who succeed on their own.

The one thing I do like about it, its not taxpayer money.....yet.

1/24/2008 7:25:18 PM

teaching a man to fish

nice

1/24/2008 9:33:28 PM

Quote :

"The privately funded program...."

I'm OK with it now.

1/24/2008 9:57:13 PM

Quote :

"only "pays" a certain type of student. Does nothing to reward those who succeed on their own."

So i'm guessing you're also against financial aid and scholarships that have a certain income level as a criteria as well?

Quote :

"Can't really say anything about it until the results come in. I have no problem with sound experimentation to find policy that works."

Yeah, i could see this going either way in terms of effectiveness.

1/24/2008 11:04:23 PM

From my admittedly vague understanding, similar projects have worked well in other countries.

I disagree with the program on principle, but I agree with it because it has results that are, in other principles, way more important.

A person with an education who pays a little more in taxes is much more free than a person with no education who pays less.

1/25/2008 1:18:24 AM

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"One of the anchors repeatedly said "I dont agree with this, i just dont agree with this""

I wish people would just report the news instead of giving their god damn opinion all the time

1/25/2008 1:38:14 AM

Quote :

"So i'm guessing you're also against financial aid and scholarships that have a certain income level as a criteria as well? "

I guess I missed the part where they will reward the people ALREADY doing the right things. It seems there are also financial aid and scholarships for people that do well in school, do they not?

They had this in memphis when I was in school there. A classmate tried to teach a summer class. She said that the kids were being paid more than she was, and judging by the papers she brought home, that summer course will be the highwater mark of thier earning potential.

1/25/2008 8:09:22 AM

Quote :

"where they will reward the people ALREADY doing the right things"

while i agree with you 100% you have to also agree it's a lot easier to be doing the right thing when u have stable home environment, no financial worries etc.

1/25/2008 8:13:54 AM

^ exactly

thats why i really thought it was a cool program. Like somone mentioned before i dont really agree with the program on principal (paying kids to study considering they should be doing it anyway) but if it honestly helps them become better students or law abiding, productive members of society im all for it

1/25/2008 10:32:32 AM

Since it's privately funded, my only major concern with this is how do you assure the the money is going to the kid? That is, how do you ensure you're not creating situations where Timmy is going to get his ass beat by his parents if he doesn't bring home his quarterly beer money?

1/25/2008 12:08:10 PM

If it works, and I think it would, I don't see any ethical problems with it. The main thing is I don't know that the cost of paying them is exceeded by the value of their increased education. If you can prove that, then it is a no brainer. I could see how this could generate more revenue through higher earnings and reduce law enforcement, corrections, and social services/welfare costs.

1/25/2008 12:31:00 PM

Just because a plan like this is functional doesn't mean it's ethical.

1/25/2008 12:34:05 PM

I'm ok with it being privately funded, but it really doesn't seem fair if the taxpayers had to pick up the bill.

I worked in high school. My family had plenty of money, but it's one of those things my brother and I were taught to do. What is the difference between me going to school, going to work, and then doing my homework versus someone from a low income family doing the same thing? The principle is the same unless you're assuming they worked more hours than I did.

$8 an hour seems high to me. Minimum Wage ftw!

[Edited on January 25, 2008 at 12:39 PM. Reason : l]

1/25/2008 12:38:42 PM

the self righteous asses on here who have a problem with this obviously dont get that the cost is still associated with these kids, whether you pay it up front through paying them to study for the aforementioned reasons proposed in the program

or you pay for it when they become society's problem down the road


trying to argue this issue from a fiscal perspective is ridiculous and a total non sequitur

1/25/2008 2:25:14 PM

Quote :

"the self righteous asses on here who have a problem with this obviously dont get that the cost is still associated with these kids, whether you pay it up front through paying them to study for the aforementioned reasons proposed in the program or you pay for it when they become society's problem down the road "

Quote :

"School officials say the goal is to determine whether paying students to study will improve their performance. The 15-week trial program will be conducted with students in the eighth and 11th grades."

You are assuming that this will make some marked difference in the student's life despite no evidence and you want to tell us about non sequitur? GTFO.

1/25/2008 2:46:02 PM