[ What do you think ] Material
Dollar for Deeds
Each time Lisa Jones arrived at an East Baltimore, Maryland, health clinic for a pregnancy checkup last year, the 19-year-old wa given a yellow voucher worth $10. After 10 visits, from which she improved her diet and learned how to care for an infant, she gave birth to a healthy baby daugher . " There are a lot of girls out there who are niave." Jones says. " The vouchers are a good way to get them to come in ." this program is part of a larger national trend toward offering schoolchildren money and other prizes to notch up their performance . Some schools are fighting truancy by awarding students' " Warrior bucks" for getting to class on time, which can be exchanged for televisions, CD players and 10-speed bikes. Perhaps the most controversial plans rewards schoolchildren for informing on one another. The "Better Kids, Better Dollars" program pays students up to $50 for turning in other youngsters carrying weapons or drugs to school. Many teachers , parents and behavioral psychologists love these programs because they seem to work quickly .
In Norman Rockwell's America , good behavior was its own reward. Accepting cash for performing a civic duty or taking care of one's own health would have been embarassing, if not downright degenerate. But that is exactly the approach that is being championed by a growing number of people desperate to reverse the social trends of the past 20 years.
What do you think ?
Do you think its' a good idea for schools to give financial aid to students with good behavior ?
What do you think is a long-term effect ?
Which do you think is a more effective way to lead teenagers, material incentives for good behavior or harsh punishment for bad ?
When you give pocket money to your chidren , which do you think is better ; unconditional giving or giving only when they to something worthy or reward ?
What do you think about applying these kinds of incentives to our own educational system ?
[ Discussion ] Let's Talk
Theme " Know Yourself "
Q) 1 . Why is it important to know yourself ? What about understanding others ?
2 . Define yourself. Who are you ? What are you ? Apply as money criteria as you can .
3. We al know it is important to know oneself. But some will argue that is is more important to know how others think of us. Do you agree ? Why or why not ?
4. Are the following things important when we define others ?
a) Appearance
b) Gender
c) Profession
d) Money
e) Religion
f) Educational background
g) Lifestyle
h) Hobby
i) The place of origin or residence
5. Are they important in defining ourselves ? Why or why not ?