An iPhone for an A

A short story for your Tuesday morning.

Yesterday, I asked one of my sixth grade students - a girl - to stay after class for a few minutes. She hadn't come to class with her homework, so we needed to have a small chat about being prepared for class. We finished the talk, and I was ready to send her on her way and get out the door (it was my last class).

I could see, however, that something else was lingering on her mind. "Um, Ms. Bucy?" Yes...? "Well, I was just wondering. Because... is there anything I can do to make sure I get an A or a B in English?" Well...I started. "You see," she said, "my mom told me that if I could get an A or a B in English she would buy me the new iphone, so..." She drifted off. "I'm just really nervous about it," she summed up.

I assured her that she was doing just fine at this point (week two) and to just keep up the hard work and...do her homework! But I let out a loud grunt of disbelief when she finally left the room. What parents! Is this really how we motivate our children to do well? Bribe them with expensive electronics?

I did, however, spend a part of last night wondering if my own grades would have improved, had my parents set out some sort of special gift as a reward. It would have had to be something really good, though! And in sixth grade, I think I was still motivated to get an A just for the sake of getting an A.

Nevertheless, I have a feeling this year will be full of these gems. Have a good day!