Students Should Be Paid for Good Grades

Recently, an experiment released by the social-policy research group Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation (MDRC) found that cash could positively improve student’s grades. This interesting phenomenon has draw people’s attention. In the olden days, students earned a good grade for the praise from parents and teachers. However, it has changed as time has passed by. Today, an A+ report card can also bring money to students. However, the question of whether students should be paid for a good grade has caused a controversial debate. From my point of view, I believe that it is a positive motivation to students. Therefore, all students should be rewarded for their excellent academic performance. Nowadays, averagely every one out of four students in the U.S. drops out of school before graduation. People pointed out that there are two major reasons, the lack of motivation and family poverty. A large amount of students indicate school bores them or distracted by unpredictable family issue. In 2009, the experiment by MDRC was processed in two community colleges in Louisiana State for low-income students. One group of students was offered $1,000 each semester if they can attend college at least half time, and maintain an average which is above C while another group would not receive the supplement. After a semester, 30% more student who was provided the financial aid was willing to register for the second semester than students who did not have the offering. Moreover, they earned more credits and more likely to maintain an above C average. The result fully shows that cash incentives actually help them in some ways.

In childhood, kids get candy for a job well done. In the society, employees get salary for a task well done. Therefore, students should be rewarded as well. That would encourage them to achieve more. The study above shows that students who were offering cash reported more positive feelings about themselves and their abilities to accomplish their