From the Website?

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Pay your Kids to Learn?

I read an article recently where the pros and cons of this idea were explored. I am one who did pay my children to learn - or, more precisely, I paid them to get good grades, which encouraged them to learn good study habits. I gave them small amounts of money for each A, and a straight A report card got them a bonus. Once they got to high school, they no longer got money for good grades, but they had already developed good study habits. By high school, they had chores around the house to earn money, or they had jobs. Learning to spend their own money since they were small has also been beneficial.

The pros in this article were as I described - that since education was meant to suit us for the work world, anyway, why not show how the incentive system works? But I think that the attitude toward the incentive has to be the right one, and it has to be stopped before the child learns ways to abuse it. One called it a bribe system, and indeed, if the parent uses this word with the kids, that's what it becomes. But when we say the focus is on learning good study habits, and the child knows this is the reason for the reward system, the whole attitude changes. Another problem is when parents make the rewards far greater than they should. Then it becomes a spoils system. A car as an incentive? While I've known some parents who won't let the kid drive unless the grades are at least a C average (insurance can be expensive!), rewarding with a car for good grades can certainly encourage a child to cheat.

Pro-Choice?

What does this really mean? The choice to murder? Or the choice not to be made into a mother or father when you're not ready? Anyone can have sex, but not anyone can be a parent. A loving, wise, giving person who understands that creating and caring for life is a life-long commitment. Imagine what the world would be like if the choice about when to be a parent were taken away. Then those who choose to have the child can no longer choose, and the abuse of children would grow in proportion. It's easy to say I am pro-life - but how many pro-lifers, once they prevent someone from having an abortion, is there for that new mother when she can't find a sitter and get to work and support the child? Pro-choice is not pro-abortion. It is for allowing those who do not agree a that a fetus is yet a child to choose not to be a parent before they're ready.

WE HAVE TO TALK!

I'm going to set up a series of issue statements, things affecting us in the world today. I'll express my viewpoint and then open the floor to all reactions, dissentions, heartaches, whatever response it generates from you. Let's find out how the world feels!