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<blockquote> <p>Doesn't merit aid = money given for A's?>></p> </blockquote>
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<p>Not always...some schools give merit aid for other things...music skills (evaluated per audition), National Merit Scholars, SAT scores, etc.</p>
<p>There is a tremendous amount of extrinsic motivation for grades in our educational system. It starts in grade school with eligibility for gifted and talented programs to high school entrance into AP classes, college admissions and graduate and professional school entrance. While intrinsic motivation is a wonderful thing, it is not the only (and some would argue not the major) motivator for academic success. Not only is most merit money given to students with relatively high GPA's, but how many students get admitted to elite colleges sporting more than one C on their transcript? Each of us will choose how to best motivate, treat and reward our sons and daughters, but to suggest that they are not heavily influenced by the extrinsic motivations associated with academic success as measured by grades and/or other methods of teacher evaluation is, in my opinion, naive.</p>