MONEY TALKS?

Washington D.C. schools have rolled out a new program called the Capital Gains Program.

Aimed at low income students it pays them to have good behavior, good conduct and improve their test scores. I can appreciate that the school system there is trying to improve these kids chances at graduating high school and success in life but I think that this is actually sending negative messages to not only the kids in the program but other children and families who might hear about this. Why strive to work two jobs to stay off welfare when you can get food stamps and put your teenager in this school and they can bring home up to $200.00 a month? Trust me, I used to live on welfare and in low income housing. There were the parents that were the ''strivers'' and then there were the other kind who knew every loophole and could squeeze and manipulate the system to their ongoing benefit. That earned money will go to anything but that child's future. If education is the true focus and the future of the student is what is truly at heart here than make the funds into a scholarship fund or educational IRA that cannot be touched unless it is going to college or vocational school tuition. Would the students be as interested in it then?

The schools do have some sort of money management training but it is vague and not stated that it is either mandatory or ongoing which I believe should be both if they are going to insist on keeping this ridiculous program going. Why not use that money to hire more teachers or improve after school programs such as mentoring and tutoring.

As a homeschooler this annoys me. A portion of my taxes go to the public school system whether I use it or not , however, once a child is approved by the state to be homeschooled any services, testing, educational materials, tutoring, field trips etc are the sole responsibility of the parents even if you have a child with learning disabilities . Regardless of how our children are doing there is not a bonus from the local,state or federal government. Doing a good job on a test should be its own reward. Learning for self enrichment and the excitement of growth is there in all kids, you just have to cultivate it. There is no learn to earn in our household except that if my kids want to earn their usual privileges such as TV or computer time then they need to learn their lessons. I think that teaches them a whole lot more than to stick their hand out for everything they do. I practice what I preach and that is why the buck stops here.