[mum mum mum]

Did anyone see this on SBS last night?
http://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/video/20740...our-Child-To-Be

Two things that particularly interested me were:
* Primary schools paying cash to disadvantaged kids if they were good (grades and behaviour) at school
* That children should be praised (in general, especially by family, not necessarily at school) for their effort, not apparent intelligence or being clever

WDYT?

edit: clarification

This post has been edited by mum mum mum: 26/04/2012, 05:41 PM

[SarDonik]

Did anyone see this on SBS last night?
http://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/video/20740...our-Child-To-Be

Two things that particularly interested me were:
* Schools paying cash to disadvantaged kids if they were good (grades and behaviour) at school
* That children should be praised for their effort, not apparent intelligence or being clever

WDYT?

No to both. The first is a complete failboat for many reasons, the second, I understand the reasoning behind it, but it's pretty high to quantify effort as opposed to achievement. I did well in school, but only when it counted, in year 11/12. Before that I was lazy and couldn't be bothered. Our school had a grading system for our school reports A - E for achievement and A - E effort. I was always getting really poor marks for achievement but high for effort... but I was putting in zero effort... the teachers have no idea really how much effort you really are putting in.

[lucky 2]

WDYT OP?

[mum mum mum]

No to both. The first is a complete failboat for many reasons, the second, I understand the reasoning behind it, but it's pretty high to quantify effort as opposed to achievement. I did well in school, but only when it counted, in year 11/12. Before that I was lazy and couldn't be bothered. Our school had a grading system for our school reports A - E for achievement and A - E effort. I was always getting really poor marks for achievement but high for effort... but I was putting in zero effort... the teachers have no idea really how much effort you really are putting in.

I've edited my OP to clarify the 2nd point but it's more that one should say 'well done, that's a great effort' rather than 'that's great, you're so clever'.

Re 1st the idea is that disadvantaged kids need to see the benefit of going to school. One poignant comment by a student when asked what he was going to do with all the money earnt was that he was going to save it for college. What are your reasons against it?

WDYT OP?

I think they're great

This post has been edited by mum mum mum: 24/04/2012, 12:52 PM

[Sweet like a lem...]

I've edited my OP to clarify the 2nd point but it's more that one should say 'well done, that's a great effort' rather than 'that's great, you're so clever'.

Why? Is being clever a bad thing now, or only highlighting to someone that they are clever? That's just rubbish. I tell my DD that she's clever all the time, because she is clever and I really need her to believe it and embrace it.

[CherryAmes]

Is it to do with the idea of thiings you can change vs things you can't? IE if you don't do well it's not because "you're not clever" (can't change), it's about effort - which you can?

Didn't see the doco, so don't know?

[Guest_tigerdog_*]

Re 1st the idea is that disadvantaged kids need to see the benefit of going to school.

All kids need to see the benefit of going to school but many don't - it's a combination of youth and lack of experience as well as growing up in a society dedicated to instant gratification.

But then I can see why disadvantaged kids may need this more, they don't see in their world the benefits an education can bring (eg. seeing parents studying or working to achieve those benefits) as they may be trapped in intergenerational poverty and welfare dependence.

This post has been edited by tigerdog: 24/04/2012, 01:16 PM

[magpie99]

It sounded as though it would have been interesting. I'm sorry I missed it but I think there are places you can download the programme.
For those who did watch it what are " the three little words that can ruin a child's chance of success for good"

[BadCat]

As is so often the case with these sort of things, it seems wonderful for the average and below average student.

Praising effort is all very nice but means squat to the brainiac in the corner who got the best test score effortlessly. There is no point praising his effort when he really didn't even need to try. He needs to be praised for his brilliance just as much as the kid who is crap at maths needs to be praised for effort and improvement. It doesn't have to be one or the other.

As for paying disadvantaged kids for grades I think it's nice for the disadvantaged kid but sucks for the kid from a reasonable home who is behaving hmself and getting the same grades. How sickening for him to see his mate from the family down the road who are on welfare get $50 for her A and all he gets for his A is a big fat nothing, or perhaps some praise for effort. As an adult one can see the reasoning behind the idea but as a kid in the same school you can bet most of those not getting cash think it sucks. I would also lay money on the fact that any number of the kids who get cash go straight out and spend it on cigarettes, booze, drugs, buying friends etc.

Based purely on the points raised by the OP I am not a fan.

[SarDonik]

Re 1st the idea is that disadvantaged kids need to see the benefit of going to school. One poignant comment by a student when asked what he was going to do with all the money earnt was that he was going to save it for college. What are your reasons against it?

It just sounds like a very naive and idealistic program that will no doubt be abused, be a nightmare to control and administer and probably only benefit a very small minority. I can imagine people with good intentions, sitting round a table and discussing the merits of this, how it will enable disadvantaged kids to save for uni or buy a computer to help with their studies etc etc But in all honesty how many kids are going to do that with the money? It's just something that sounds great in theory, but in practice is going to fail.

This post has been edited by SarDonik: 24/04/2012, 01:39 PM