The guy was appointed by Daley. He has NEVER been a teacher. He played basketball for a living for 5 years in the minor leagues and Australia, and he believes in “bailouts” for students:
“CHICAGO, Sept. 11 (UPI) — Chicago education leaders say they are prepared to offer some 5,000 high school freshmen citywide cash for grades to improve students’ educational efforts.
Chicago Public Schools chief executive Arne Duncan said the “Green for Grade$” program will begin Thursday at 20 public high schools across the city and will offer lower-income students help in their studies and financial situation, the Chicago Tribune said.
“The majority of our students don’t come from families with a lot of economic wealth. I’m always trying to level the playing field,” Duncan said. “This is the kind of incentive that middle-class families have had for decades.”
The Chicago Sun-Times said the program, which originated at Harvard University’s Education Laboratory, will offer the freshmen $50 for an A, $35 for a B and C’s will earn them $20 a piece.”
That's JUST NOT FAIR!!..lol
Why should someone be paid more just because that person is getting A's??? We need to 'spread the wealth around' a little more equitably. /s
I had a Chemistry prof in college who told us the story of how he had once allowed students to bring a single 3X5 card "cheat sheet" into an exam. He said he was amazed at the effort and ingenuity that went into the production of these, such as writing in red and green in perpendicular directions. He noted that if they had spent half that much effort in learning the material, they would have been better off.
Similarly, I can well imagine that the student's desire for the monetary reward will find other channels of expression than studying. I would imagine all sorts of pressure applied individually and en masse for the granting of higher grades, along with the concommitant diversion of attention, effort, and energy from actual studying.
I agree with the idea but only for A’s and B’s. And what is considered an A and on what tests? They can’t be special dumbed down tests just for these kids.