As the title says I honestly cant decide if this is a good or a bad thing, Yes children and young people should read more, everyone should.
The question I'd ask though is would bribe kids to read with coke and movie tickets?
what do you think? would it have made you read more? and how long until the obesity from drinking drinks laced with sugar and the sedentary lives these kids will have from sitting and reading a book? not to mention the health problems like diabetes and tooth decay because of the sugar and acidity of the drinks?
theres one kid that's bragging that he's read 30 books, while i think its a good thing that he's reading I cant help but wish that he'd done it without the promise of getting something for it, as soon as the trial stops and he doesn't get coke, movie tickets etc will he keep reading?
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A Wellington School has resorted to bribes in a bid to get students reading.
Rongotai College is offering cans of soft drink, Subway food vouchers and movie tickets as a reward for pupils prepared to try books.
The principal says some boys were not reading at all, so something had to be done - but some schools in the US go as far as offering cash.
James Boag, in year 10 at Rongotai College, says he has already read nearly 30 books this year because of the reading rewards program.
"It's a really good way to get students motivated about reading," he says.
Year nine student Isiah Turletufuga says he is into books more as well.
"Since this reading program's come I'm starting to read a little more since I'm getting rewarded for my reading," he says.
The rewards program began this year, but the problem has been around much longer. Boys tend not to read as much as girls in New Zealand, and they suffer academically as a result.
So how does it work? If students read two books, they receive a can of Coke. When they reach five books, it is a Subway voucher. A movie ticket comes once their tally reaches 10.
While the Principals' Association questions how fizzy drinks fit into the schools' healthy foods programme, it accepts rewards must appeal to students.
"If it is in fact the fizzy drink that is initially encouraging these young people to read books I don't see a major problem with that," says Paul Daley.
Some have more lofty aspirations
"The best thing I want is the blazer, 'cause it's part of the uniform and it's like the school spirit," says Isiah.
To ensure the students are actually reading the books, they are required to keep a reading log endorsed by parents and reviewed by teachers.
The $4000 scheme is funded by the local Lions Club and the Parents' Association, and the school says the number of books taken out of the school library has doubled.
In the US, one institution has gone further to motivate students, and is paying them to learn.
In New York, 8000 randomly selected fourth and seventh graders are selected to earn for learning. Fourth graders can earn up to US$25 for 10 maths and English tests to a maximum of US$250.
Critics worry about creating such expectations in students, and Rongotai College is definitely not planning to go that far.
Instead it will review the programme's success at the end of the year.
