Education or Conditioning?
Recently, I’ve seen a lot of news reports about “things” that the government education system is doing to “encourage” students. Most of these involve rewards, including cash and prizes, for students basically just showing up. Some give cash for students who “improve” their grades. Some have paid an hourly rate for students who simply show up. What is it that we’re teaching here?
I have had this discussion with various professionals, educators, and psychologists. It centers around the idea that’s completely foreign to the older generation — rewarding people for doing what they’re supposed to do.
Supporters of this concept say that if it gets students to do what they’re supposed to do, then it’s okay to reward them. After all, the supporters claim, this will teach them to do the right thing.
Those who oppose this concept say that there should be no reward for simply doing what’s expected of you. If you reward people who do what they’re supposed to, what do you do with those who don’t?
It seems the government education system has come down firmly on the side of those who support this idea. But I suggest that perhaps we’re not teaching them to do right, but simply conditioning them to expect something for doing nothing. What lesson is to be learned from being rewarded, literally, for just showing up?
I do think that we are doing a great disservice to our children when we condition them to expect something for doing nothing. This appears in so many ways. For example, have you ever noticed how kids’ sports leagues often give trophies for just finishing? “Gee, you kids tried hard, even though you never won a game. Here’s a trophy.”
This leads to young adults who expect to be rewarded for showing up. This leads to mentally immature adults who enter the workplace and expect to get something and who think they deserve something for doing absolutely nothing — like health care.
Many young adults today support the position that they deserve health care. No, they don’t think they should have to do a single thing to get it. They don’t care who provides it or how it’s paid for — they simply DESERVE it because they showed up at the doctor’s office.
As long as we continue to teach our children that you get rewarded for absolutely nothing, you can count on the strong advance of socialism in America.
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An opportunity for a free education is just not enough motivation Ogre! Gee, doncha know?
This is why kids now a days don’t get it, don’t have jobs when they are in their 20s or can’t keep a job because of the absense of a “work ethic”. At the rate kids in government schools are being turned over to the thought process “everyone owes me”, we don’t have long in this country.
It does certainly seem like it’s getting worse — but I’ve seen and know people that strongly encourage this reward system for nothing. The more I see it, the more it seems that it might actually work, but I think it’s long-term value stinks.
And apparently the government system is more interested in short-term results, thank you “No Child Left Behind.”
The problem, as I see it, is the fact that since the dawn of time, children that work hard for gains from the crib just grow up stronger and with a good work ethic. Those that are handed too much for nothing, end up lost and confused in adulthood. They are the ones that squander their inheritence and end up living under an overpass out of a shopping cart. I have always felt that inner city kids would benefit from having access to a work/study program where by if they are poor, the see the benefit of working and learning via a small paycheck that helps out at home.
But to pay them just to show up is just another welfare system and gets them conditioned to more entitlement. One of the greatest things any leader in the country ever said was what John Kennedy said at his inagural. “Ask not what your country can do for you… ask WHAT YOU CAN DO for your country”. Kind of funny that it came from the mind of a liberal, but it cuts to what is really wrong with this country today. To much entitlement and too little loyalty to the country that supports it. It is just so sad.
And SO much of society and education have bought into the mentality. Hard work is no longer rewarded in this country, thanks to liberals and government. As you say, that’s truly sad.
Words that should shine:
“But I suggest that perhaps we’re not teaching them to do right, but simply conditioning them to expect something for doing nothing.”
Paying kids to do something the stupid government has said they legally must do is teaching them to become more dependent upon said government. It’s all part of an agenda, I am sure. AND just where are these funds coming from?
Crazy…just crazy. It really ticks me off that we have come to this..well not WE but some. Should this not be a sign that government run schools are failing???
Raven, there have been so many “signs” over the years, I think most government people would have to be struck down by lightening to see it! Whoa is us!!!!!
Let’s pay the kids to obey the law.
Yea, that’s it.
And SO many psychologists and others say that this is a good idea! I think it reflects a general view of people are utterly and completely stupid.
It’s similar to the idea that “Gee, kids are going to have sex, anyway, we might as well help them.”
It’s wrong, and it continues to be wrong — but society isn’t seeing that and instead says that such programs are good. After all, when an individual sees “Hey, my kid’s getting cash so I don’t have to give him as much, okay, sounds good to me” — they’re not helping.
Yeah, now they not only get perversion education, but they get condoms and lessons on using them! As far as I’m concerned, they may as well grab the kid on his first birthday!
They’re working towards that. Here in NC, they are trying to force kids to attend “pre-school” at age THREE.