Bribery or incentive?

So let me get this right ... you get a reward for doing what you are supposed to be doing ...is it me or has the world gone completely nuts

Can't believe this is the right way to go. I don't agree with similar action by parents - buying or promising a toy for good behaviour. Is it that difficult to keep children in line these days?? We're just not tough enough. Mamby pamby are the words which come into mind (think the spelling is wrong but can't find it in the book!)

Did anyone else listen to this very issue debated on R4 Tuesday 'The Public Philospher'? engrossing stuff.

WE got good marks for conduct and school work in the 1950's The school had four houses and each month a shield would be presented to the house which had amassed the most good marks. You could get an 'Order mark' for missed homework, lateness, untidiness, etc.
I am wondering if disaffected pupils would give a monkey's about such a system.
Thinking of the thread on truancy, I think the EMA was a great idea - now of course thrown out with all the other good ideas.

Go no further than our house for bribery taking place. GD staying with us last week and as I walked past the music room I heard DH say "please do your music homework, I will give you money" GD was having none of it "I don't want money, I have loads" DH wasn't around when DD was having music lessons or to hear me tell her in no uncertain terms what would happen if she didn't get to the piano right now. Children always find something they would be rather doing. GD has already dropped out of dancing classes because she didn't like the discipline, a shame because she was very good at it.

I still have very clear memories of a lovely scheme my Junior school did - doubt it would work for older children though. It was called the 'Gold Star Book' and every week a different subject was chosen by the head teacher for a gold star award. Thus every teacher chose the very best example of a piece of work and the winning child's name was written into a gold bound book that stood on an easel outside the head teacher's office. The child's work in question, such as a page from their maths book or a work of art had a little gold star stuck to it (we also had coloured stars for really good work in house colours that accumulated over a year). To have your name penned into this book and to have a shiny gold star stuck in one of your exercise books was such a thrill, I can still remember the pride one felt. Yes I did win it a couple of times but never for Maths.

Yes grannylin I did hear that programme, which was why this vivo scheme struck such a chord with me. For those who did not hear it, it was discussing just this issue of bribery/incentive. One of the things discussed was a health promotion scheme to get people to lose weight by paying them to do so!

I have to say that instinctively I feel uncomfortable about the vivo scheme. It seems to be encouraging a materialistic attitude to life and misses the point that we behave well to each other to create happiness and peace, not to be paid. I occasionally reward my GC with one tiny sweet when they have been good - but they are very small. I would have thought that secondary age children would be better served by learning by example and by the school creating a caring and industrious ethos. But perhaps I am living in a dream world.

I enjoyed The Public Philospher programme as well. What is the difference between bribery and incentive? Fascinating question but I am still not sure of the answer. I certainly don't think that children should be rewarded for behaving normally! Sounds like extra work for teachers as well - as if they don't have enough to do.