Rewards Or Punishments For School Grades?
The effectiveness of prizes or punishments awarded based on school grades is a source of great discussion among parents. Always. The reason is that both systems offer the child a different motivation, which is not always to be considered legitimate.
In this article we will examine whether awarding rewards or punishments based on school grades is right or if it is a practice to be abandoned permanently .
The pros and cons of rewards and punishments
In general, we know that offering rewards or punishing a child can change their behavior. However, the use of rewards or punishments carries a risk. And that is that teaching centered on the grade ruins the very meaning of learning.
The goal of learning is simply getting grades to get rewards and not really learning something about a certain topic.
And finding innovative and creative solutions to difficult problems also loses importance. Either way, rewards or punishments are used as incentives to pave the way for children to achieve their goal.
On the one hand , rewards are a positive way of shaping the behavior of others. If a person does something right, we give him a prize.
On the other hand, the punishments constitute the impossibility of obtaining the rewards for failing to reach the minimum established by the two parties.
In the event that the school grades obtained by the child are not those established together, the consequence is that, in addition to having no advantage, the child will also receive a punishment.
And for punishment we mean, for example, having fewer hours to be outside playing, or studying during the summer months.
So is it right to award prizes or punishments for school grades?
Let’s try to examine both of these elements in detail.
The prices
Many parents want to keep their children motivated and use rewards to incentivize their little ones to get good grades in school. The prizes can be given in various forms: in the form of a gift or a greater number of hours of rest and fun for good behavior.
In most cases, the rewards are agreed upon first by both parties, with the hope of encouraging the achievement of school goals.
There is no doubt that rewards help students get good grades. However, there is a risk that they can become the one and only motivation that drives them to study and commit.
Therefore, if you decide to reward your child for school grades, make sure that the rewards you choose are not exaggerated. Also, you need to make the child understand that real success is getting good results but because knowledge has been gained.
As for the prizes, you must consider that it is better to give intangible but highly appreciated rewards. In this way, you will more emulate the real world in which, those who work well or behave well in return receive the opportunity to do something pleasant.
The punishments
Punishment is used when the rules agreed by both parties are violated. This means that parents must set goals at the beginning of the year and must list what the punishments will be for their children if they do not follow the rules or achieve certain results.
Punishments or consequences usually involve taking away from the child something he loves very much. They are meant to dissuade him from reiterating the behavior that led to the negative result.
Therefore the fear of punishment causes children to follow rules that have been clearly explained to them right from the start.
Mentioning punishments, on the other hand, makes them behave well. However, in some cases, fear can push the pupil to work simply to survive and not to work hard.
However that may be, it must be borne in mind that the punishments of parents for the bad behavior of their children must be more severe and lasting than the tools used to motivate them. Of course, always make sure they are realistic, logical and effective based on the age of the child.
Finally, don’t forget that punishments and rewards are no longer needed when self-control comes into play. It is not easy to develop, nor is it an overnight process. Ideally, both of these measures disappear as children get older.
Our advice is to talk to your children and explain to them the meaning of the rewards, and what it implies not to achieve goals in the form of punishment. Ultimately, training and learning will be the most valuable thing you can offer.
