I agree, offering money for grades is like priming the pump in that it does encourage kids to work harder. However, at some point the kids must internalize the idea that hard work equals success and start working hard for that reason alone and not for the short term goal of the $100.

You're definitely not crazy on this one! When I read this article yesterday, the same thing stuck out to me. While I'm glad that someone is searching for a way to make education appeal to young black men, it is sad to see that the only way they think our youth can be reached is through sex. Why not try to foster the inherent interests, strengths and ambitions of these kids & show them how education is the better way to pursue those things. I dunno, but I'm sure there is SOMETHING that could appeal to them that would be better than this.

I'm totally fine with it. I say do whatever it takes to motivate a kid to work towards good grades. Once they start seeing the results, I think they become addicted. I was paid for As and Bs on my report cards. It's how I bought my things in HS and that money came in quite handy.

"Um ... the sexism? The motivating factor being money and sex with women, not self-improvement, self-empowerment, a desire for knowledge, but the pursuit of "hoes." "

What if you replace "hoes" with "upstanding young ladies"? Boys wanting to have sex with women, among other things (hopefully a love-filled, respectful, human relationship) is not sexist in and of itself. Sex is not sexist.

Plus, I stared at Cassie and contemplated her skinny Blasiany dopeness for a solid 180 seconds before I even started reading the post. Thanks for that pick-me-up, Danielle!

Hey, whatever floats someone's boat. We are all not the same. We aren't all going to be Socially aware, morally conscious, pro black, anti sexism.

The truth is, young teenage boys ARE motivated by getting women and having power and status, hell, so are most men. I can't hate on that. That is HUMAN NATURE ...not all of us are at that "higher conscious" frame of mind. If that works, then IT WORKS. Most guys admire the music moguls and athletes..especially young guys from inner cities. I say educate them on ways to be more like puffy and others. Eventually they will learn more about life and its not just about the money cars and ...ahem *dope women

It doesn't bother me...nope..I have learned a long time ago ...everyone isn't goin to be the same..and well..they shouldn't be..so ...we can't expect them to be

I call BS. One lesson that you learn while going to school is that the rewards are not immediate or glamorous. My mother always said school is it's own reward. I didn't appreciate her words then but that's why she was the adult and I was the child.

What happens if they do well on all of their exams and their best accomplishment is becoming a postal worker? Now, being a postal worker is a respectable, honest career but it's no Parisian penthouse furnished with models kind of life. This idea of material wealth is a little too close to a get rich quick mentality. Drug dealers have perfected that promo with devastating consequences; let's try another approach. I'm all about encouraging kids to reach for the moon and achieve their dreams but they need to hear a healthy dose of realism such as dealing with failure, severe competition, or having to wait many years before they accomplish their goals.

See, there is a reason why certain traditional educational values such as respect, hard work, and self-worth are called "traditional." Because they stand the test of time! Nothing new under the sun. Kids have always valued "cool" but that's why they are children NOT adults.

Back to the drawing board for revisions, folks.

Also, just because sexual desires fuel a lot of motivations and decisions doesn't mean we need to encourage it. There is no excuse for neglecting to teach a boy how to respect women instead of viewing them as lust objects. Sure, their hormones will make them think otherwise, but that too shall pass when they mature a little. Do we really need more babies running around with irresponsible fathers? Must girls continue to underestimate their self worth and view themselves as nothing more than booty shakin,' arm candy?

I think paying $100 bucks for passing an AP exam is good. In fact I think all kids should get it b/c you get college credit while in high school and it actually saves the student and their family some money. But we must also be realistic someone who barely is reading on grade level will not pass the AP exam.

Sex and cars is what motivates most men, its about time the black community especially the young boys put the education at the top of their list and not rapping and playing basketball to achieve these things. But I could totally see this as backfiring also. Will someone with this attitude survive college past their sophomore year? Will they survive without becoming a baby mama or daddy? Will they survive college w/o gettiing HIV? And what will they do when they realize college does not quick wealth or quick for that matter unless you invent a Google or a Facebook?

There are plenty of intelligent, motivated, but poor kids who already understand the value of higher education or vocational training as a way out of their situations, without the bait of money or sex. But that said, I don't see much of a difference between $100 for passing a placement exam and the annual incentive pay awarded to an employee for helping an organization meet a sales goal. You achieve more, you get paid. Isn't this the way many companies motivate their employees? Not saying it's the best method, but still...

Strangely the exotic women part didn't bother me. I have to note however, that Daniell said "hoes", not the article. But, it's hard to not look at a picture of Cassie and think ho, but I digress.

I'd love to know the college success rate of the kids witht the high SAT scores. Maybe, it's too early to tell. I'm really torn on this issue. We are living in the age a entitlement. Teenagers figure that they are supposed to automatically have everything without the hard work. Now, I realize that these students are working hard and are getting rewarded. My question is what happens when they are in the real world working hard and don't see a reward?

You are not crazy. This appeal is dreadfully superficial. I mean, awesome if it works, because college is a mind-broadening experience and hopefully young people, once at college, will move beyond the foolishness contained therein, but that doesn't make it not foolishness.

@ Brandi

"My question is what happens when they are in the real world working hard and don't see a reward?"

They'll spend the years until they're about 28 or 29 learning to cope with it, like all the rest of us who didn't get paid for grades have/do/will. They won't be any different.

it might b a good idea. what have been the results?

not only is it denigrating to girls and boys (reinforces the black buck belief), it instills a sense of entitlement. I GOT into this school now I DESERVE your attentions.

The folks who purport to help the underclass, really don't think that much of them in the end.

for all of those who are saying it's a bad idea.....what do you propose?

Paid by whom and with what? The state with my tax dollars?

Kids from the most backwards countries come to this country with no english language skills and yet within a short period of time they excell in not only in the english language, but in math and science. They then go on to graduate from places like MIT and make positive contributions in medicine and science and every other area.

Why? Because they are taught by their parents and community to value education and to achieve to the best of their ability.

Some black people? Why, let's just pay kids to occupy space in a class room with the expectation of money and sex if they can manage to pass the class? And if they do pass, it sure won't be because they learned anything.

No sense of achieving, of the possibility of making the community a better place, of knowledge.

No wonder why every other ethnic group in this country bypasses black people.

And will continue to do so.

I always figured that if there were no woman in the world str8 men would just sit around in their shorts, scratching, drinking beer and watching TV. So the idea that telling a young guy that an education will allow him access to more woman in his life is not necessarily a bad thing.

The slippery slope comes when the young guys are not otherwise socialized to know that we woman are not like the ones being portrayed by hip hop. That access to woman will not mean they will have groupies but that they will have opportunities to meet smart, successful women that they would not otherwise ever have a chance of meeting without an education. That would of course require some mentoring. So all-in-all I don't think this is a bad thing if presented properly.

And what about convincing Black girls the importance of education? Where is the pitch to them?

@ TiredOfTheHypocrisy

You should read a book like Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. The success of immigrant kids is not as simple as you seem to think. There are a lot of factors at play.

"And what about convincing Black girls the importance of education?"

judging from the numbers, do you think black women need to be told this?

@Swiv

Although Black women go to college in higher numbers than Black men that does not necessarily mean that enough Black women go to college. We should never be lulled into thinking that we are at acceptable levels when we are being measured against dysfunctional numbers (the number of Black men going to college).

what's enough? comparable with that of whites? more than whites? above 50? close to 100?

I think the comparison should be against all American women. What is the percentage of all girls who go on to college and then how do Black girls compare. It's really not that hard to understand is it?

There's more women in college than men for most ethno-racial groups in the US.

@ Monie, just wanted to make clear my response was typed as you were typing yours. I wasn't addressing the percentages of American who go on to attend college - I don't know what that number is (do you?) I was just mentioning that it's become common for college campuses to be 51 -52% female.