Should elementary school children receive material rewards for performance and cooperation? Imagine that you are a parent and that you have a child in the first grade. You have received a notice from the principal of the school that a program of tangible rewards (buttons, stickers, starts, bags of popcorn, cookies) is being considered. The notice compares tangible rewards of the children with the pay adults get for work. From what we know about behaviorism, is this a good idea? Explain why the extensive use of tangible rewards may backfire in this situation.

Question

Should elementary school children receive material rewards for performance and cooperation?  Imagine that you are a parent and that you have a child in the first grade.  You have received a notice from the principal of the school that a program of tangible rewards (buttons, stickers, starts, bags of popcorn, cookies) is being considered.  The notice compares tangible rewards of the children with the pay adults get for work.  From what we know about behaviorism, is this a good idea?  Explain why the extensive use of tangible rewards may backfire in this situation.

Writeacher · Answer

This is an opinion question, and I'm sure your teacher wants YOUR opinions and explanations, not those of other people.

Write up YOUR thoughts and then repost if you want someone here to critique your work.

drwls · Answer

There was a famous mathematician named Lagrange. What, or who, is a Langrange?

bobpursley · Answer

Langrange is a positive reinforcement program: rewards for doing homework, coming to school, Nothing new, just a new name.

checker · Answer

Children may get a big head