Rethinking Rewards For Academic Brilliance
If I received a dollar every time I topped my class , I would probably be a billionaire by now. These days, every parent wants to educate his children so that they can become responsible people in the future. It’s not like in the olden days when our forefathers knew little to nothing about education. The future of our countries and the world is the younger generation and care must be taking in bringing them up. No one wants to raise kids who would grow up to have a negative impact on society because we all want the best for our kids and our countries.
Day in , day out, millions of kids are enrolled in schools across the globe while others are already in the schooling system. Obviously, we wouldn’t expect all these kids to have the same level of intelligence and understanding. There’s always going to be that one kid who’s the smartest and the one who needs some time to grasp things. I believe that sometimes, the problem is not even with the kids but with the teachers and their mode of teaching. When I was in kindergarten through to Junior high, I was always topping my class because my teachers taught well and they knew what they were doing. But when I moved to senior high, things were different. I wasn’t topping my class anymore because I wasn’t even able to follow what the teachers were teaching. They were just there because they had to.
Another scenario is one with my younger sister. When she was enrolled in school , she was very active in crèche and nursery. But when she got to kindergarten her teacher started complaining that she wouldn’t write or even take part in class activities. If the teacher spoke about it she would cry and then sleep. I didn’t believe my sister was a lazy student because anytime she came back from school, she would do her homework and even work on some of her books at home. I knew the teacher wasn’t doing something right. One day, she came back home with a cane mark on her leg. I knew the teacher was beating these kids and that’s why they weren’t interested in class activities anymore. The next day, we went to the school to report the case to the headmaster. The teacher was changed and my sister started doing well in school again because she is a bright student.
Giving students cash reward for academic achievement or brilliance is a big no for me. Imagine handing a student cash price for topping his class in front of all his mates. Obviously, the others would feel a bit bad because they didn’t get such money. But at the end of the day, we know that they all tried their best but as we all know, not everyone can be first in class. This wouldn’t even cause some sort of resentment and competition among the students and trust me, you wouldn’t want that as a teacher.
Every student needs a little push or motivation, especially when it comes to brilliant but needy students. Instead of rewarding them with cash prices which would probably be even embezzled by their guardians, why not have a scholarship fund set up for them which would cover their fees, books and other essential stuff they would need in school. This way, these students won’t feel they lack anything and they would be motivated to do better because most people like the idea of being on ‘scholarships’.
Sometimes, it doesn’t even necessarily have to be only brilliant students getting the scholarship. Those at the bottom also need that kind of motivation because you never know the potential they have. Every kid has a bring future and it’s up to us, those who they look up to , to make them feel they can make it.
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Very much agree with you, it is preferable to have a scholarship where there is no danger of misappropriating funds, and as you say not only for outstanding students, everyone deserves a chance, and each of us learns at our own pace. Instead of focusing on material rewards we need to promote students' self-esteem, autonomy and intrinsic satisfaction as a form of lasting motivation. This involves recognizing and valuing each student's individual effort and achievements without comparing them to one another.
You're very right. This would help students put in more work and also have a brighter future.
It feels like you’re reasoning with me too. They will only study for the cash and not because they want to know what they are being taught
This wouldn't even help them as they will learn to forget.
In education, objectives must be given to be achieved with merit, we must try to make merit beneficial by valuing it, so that there is always this search and objective on the part of students in achieving their objectives.
You're right. Students need to be motivated in another way aside giving out cash rewards.
There are many things that can be used to reward students aside cash. Cash reward isn't even an option because the negative effects it will have on the kids. Like u suggested, scholarship, or even books 📚 or other academic materials depending on the capacity of the school. Rewards can be motivating but not cash for students
I totally agree with you. As a mother, I know you wouldn't want your kids to be handed some amount of cash at their age.
There are other ways to motivate a child for his hardwork
You have said it all, everyone needs that push, that motivation to put in the work and more effort is something we all need.
Indeed, we all need some sort of motivation even if we are ahead or behind.
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Many of if would have fine really far if we were appreciate with cash if we topped out class...
But it is also a wat to encourage students.
Like you said, sometimes, the failure of a child might not be because the child is not brilliant or smart, but it could be the fault of the teacher.
I had a similar experience in my secondary school, at a point, I got pretty much confused, cause the teachers were not passing the message communicatively to me, and I think I got a bit affected...
This is a problem most students face in school. Let’s hope for the best in future.
We hope so..