<p>In principal I agree that paying for grades is a bad idea. The grades themselves should be their own reward. I never offered bribes to my older two boys and never needed to. They understand the value of good grades and also the consequences of bad grades. We sometimes take them out to dinner to celebrate good grades, and that’s about it.</p>
<p>However, with my youngest S (now 12) I have learned to never say never. Things that motivate my older ones do NOT motivate him. He has lost computer privileges, video game privileges, and still brings home mediocre grades. Worse, he doesn’t seem to care. In desperation I offered a bribe for A’s, but that hasn’t worked either. Second semester just ended and he has yet to get an A outside of PE. </p>
<p>So in our case, bribery was not really effective. However, he has other issues going on. (He just started medication for ADHD about a month ago, and we are seeing some improvement, but I attribute that to the meds and not the bribes).</p>