Paying Kids for Good Grades

Last year my children's grades just weren't what I wanted them to be. They weren't extremely bad but they weren't extremely good either. The main problem I had is that I knew they could do better. I tried talking to them, then asking and finally pleading with them to please bring their grades up. Letting them know, I knew, they could do better than what they were doing.

It didn't help.

Up until last year, I have been against paying children for grades. The way I saw it was, I shouldn't have to pay them or bribe them to do something, they should do anyways. I don't pay them for chores either. It's their responsibility to be a productive member of this family, and that means contributing to the upkeep of the house.

Then I thought, isn't that what your job is all about? You go to work and get paid. You do a good job at work and you get raises and promotions and when you do a bad job - you get fired. And what about scholarships? Isn't that money earned by getting good grades? So, when I think about it like that, maybe giving my kids a little money incentive isn't so bad.

Therefore, last year, just into the second 9 weeks, I did something I didn't think I ever would. I bribed my kids with money if they got good grades. Well - that's not the entire story. As we were having our family meeting, I announced to them that I would be paying them for their grades. Their eyes lit up and sparkled and then the question of, 'how much?'

Here is our Good Grade Paying Contract:

1. Only the main subjects counted: English, Math, Social Studies, Science, Reading, Health.

2. Payment will be made at the end of every 9 weeks or when I got their grade cards.

3. I will pay you $10 for every A.

4. I will pay you $5 for every B.

5. You will get nothing for C's.

6. If you get a D, you owe me $10.

7. If you get an F, you owe me $20.

I think they were excited up until #6. Although they usually didn't get F's, there was the occasional D, and I wanted to make sure that if that happened, the D's out weighed the A's and B's. Meaning, if they got an A and a D - they get nothing, and if they got a B and a D, they would owe me $5 bucks.

Seem fair? I don't know but I saw grades coming up immediately, and I was happy! In the end, everyone was happy and that's what really matters right? I'm planning on using this same grade incentive for this school year also.