We always got Pizza Hut coupons for reading when I was in elementary school. I can’t remember how it worked exactly, but I think our parents had to sign off that we’d read X number of books in our free time and we’d get a coupon for a free personal pan pizza.

I don’t have a problem with that. It brings in money to the school and ultimately it’s still the parents who get to decided whether the coupons are used.

This does bother me. I too was raised that my good grades were not rewarded with cash or something else. The reward was the praise my parents gave me for obtaining said good grades.

I know the intentions are good to entice students to study more, read more, apply themselves, etc. However, again, the reward should be getting accepted to a better university with a scholarship in hand versus a cheeseburger.

Are we raising our kids to be communists or capitalists?

That’s why I don’t like this phrase - “I applaud her decision not to bribe me to do what I was supposed to do anyway”

Everything in our “system” is based on reward incentives. Should we really be telling our kids one thing, and doing something else?

Kevin, there’s a difference between praising your children for getting good grades and bribing your children to get good grades. Praising your children is healthy encouragement and bribing your children teaches them that they will always get some material gain for doing a good job or the right thing, which is something that no one should be teaching their children, though I’m sure it happens.

I’m not really sure where the communist vs. capitalist comes into play but if by “our system” you mean how the American economy works, I’ll gladly remind you that we do not practice pure capitalism–it’s not feasible as a basis for an economy, which is why we have so many taxes and governmental programs.

Incidentally, even the most capitalist among our fellow Americans frequently do the right thing (see Bill Gates, Warren Buffet), likely because they were taught good values by their parents. I’m guessing they never got hamburgers as rewards for good grades.

I’m not sure how I feel about this. I remember last year, my daughter received a couple of coupons from Publix for a free cupcake though I can not remember why she received them. I believe they were a kind of incentive I’m just not recalling for what. For her, it was more of a, “hey look! I got a coupon for something free!” It didn’t seem to motivate her one way or the other in terms of incentive, it just was what is was. I think a lot depends on the child’s personality. For some it will motivate for some it will just be “gravy”.

I do think selling advertising space on the report card folder/envelope is a bit much though. We’re already inundated with advertising. That would turn me off form patronizing a place instead of enticing me to go there.

Also, dolphin, perhaps you and I are viewing this from different perspectives, but I don’t feel that food should ever be used as a reward for a human, particularly junk food. It encourages and unhealthy relationship with food that can cause lifelong health problems.

I don’t feel that food should ever be used as a reward for a human, particularly junk food.

That’s valid. I guess when i was a child I only ever wanted a Happy Meal for the toy not the food, but that probably isn’t the same for every child. (I feel I should note, though it’s probably not relevant, that I was a big time reader as a child and so for me the Pizza Hut deal was less of a “I’ll read because I like to get pizza” and more of a “I’ll get pizza because I like to read.”

I still think of the much-needed money that the such programs probably bring into the school, and in my opinion the pros out weigh the cons, but I certainly understand how and why some would disagree with me.

Do you work for your employer because the work needs to get done, or because he/she will give you a paycheck in return?

Kevin, I work because I need to make a living. I do a good job because I want to. I have no food or financial incentive for doing any more than the minimal amount of work, but I enjoy the appreciation of my co-workers, so I strive to do a good job for them and to feel good myself. Because that’s how my mom taught me to be.

I don’t think your analogy really holds up.

Do you work for your employer because the work needs to get done, or because he/she will give you a paycheck in return?

Both. I have to eat and pay bills so if my employer stopped paying me, I’d be forced to look elsewhere, but I enjoy what I do and take pride in my work. I’ve often said if I suddenly inherited a billion dollars from some long lost relative, I’d keep doing the work I do. I might quit my job so I could do it on a more flexible schedule, but I’d still keep doing the work that I do.

Ok, just checking.