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Originally Posted by Shogun  what working American doesn't ask "whats in it for me"? We assume that kids just "should" want to learn and put an effort into their work but this isn't 1920 where kids are either in the fields or part of the blessed chosen white collars to receive an education. further, money is no longer something that kids are unfamiliar with. 50 years ago father may have known best and had the walet but now kids HAVE experience with money and know what its for to its full capacity. I would suggest that paying kids a graded wage based on the result of their effort, a percentage of the current minimum wage even, would do more to increase effort in school than assuming kids have the mindset of their grandpas about education.
You are not going to instill some "value" in learning without something to reinforce the behaviour. Telling pavlovs dog to drool didn't work like the meat powder did. Telling kids that they should Value learning doesn't work in a culture that has decided that every kid will be educated. Further, id suggest that it is IMPERATIVE to mold kids to fully understand the bargain we expect from them after they graduate; that they sink or swim according to the payoffs of their own effort. Again, what adult who works doesn't ask whats in it for them during the interview? Likewise, I just dont see a worthwhile reason to assume kids should be grateful for an education since it was rarer to get one during their grandfathers generation than it is during THEIR OWN generation.
remember: public education is about the kids.. not the schools. |
I agree to a degree. And you're right, most of us already do ask "what's in it for us." So if it's so natural to do so, why do we need to reinforce that in the public school system. No sense in prodding a horse that's already running right? What I feel that we're doing, is fueling this attitude in the U.S. that we won't work for cheap, therefore openning the door for these millions of immigrant workers that are doing jobs that Americans won't do. If these kids are learning that they'll get paid for everything they do, that's what they'll expect. Which, you're right, we already do this. We want to get paid for our time, but it's not something that was reinforced when I was a kid. IMO it's a natural development that most people experience. When you get into the working world, you make sure you get paid for your work.
As far as a Pavlov, I agree. But if you can classically condition dogs to start drooling when they hear a bell, could you not classically condition kids to stimulate in the presence of education? Why could you not also go the other way and condition your kids to value education and learn without a thought of "payback" I'm not disagreeing with you, but when it comes to education, I'm a bit of an idealist....
