By Lindsey Smith Remember the budge card system we used in fifth grade to reward students? Small acts of good behavior like being seated and quiet before other kids, helping the teacher, or raising your hand and answering a difficult question could result in receiving a small piece of paper with a fun cartoon character called a budge card. This was a way to reward us for classroom decency and keep us motivated to continue exceptional behavior. At the end of the year, all of our good deeds would pay off and we were allowed to trade and buy tokens and trinkets with the piles of budge cards we had saved throughout the course of the year. Students were happy with the toys they purchased, and teachers could use budge cards as a way to inspire students to be more hardworking, helpful, and driven. It seems like a good system, right? Wrong.
This idea of rewarding students by handing out small tokens for civility has been used for years to improve behavior in classrooms across the world. One teacher citing extrinsic rewards claimed, “It made the problematic kids not want to be as problematic.” In general, teachers have noticed that these rewards seem to work, especially with more difficult children who have a harder time engaging and listening. But, research has shown for decades that this kind of reward is harmful. In fact, extrinsic rewards are shown to cripple intrinsic motivation (the wanting to engage in a behavior that is personally rewarding, not for an external reward), limit performance, crush creativity, provoke cheating, become habit-forming, and form a short-term mindset. The problem with extrinsic rewards is that this system trains people to repeat reinforced conduct and avoid punishment. Some scientists say that extrinsic rewards the most ineffective character education practice used by educators. One high school in Mississippi specializing in special education decided to experiment with this ideology by completely ceasing the use of extrinsic rewards. Known for giving out “Northview bracelets” as rewards, Northview High School teachers had a hard time adjusting to this new approach of teaching. Inspired by a leadership education conference, the principal of Northview wanted to change the corrosive effects of rewards by implementing a new system for good behaviors. Instead of using extrinsic rewards, teachers now wanted to incorporate character development into the school's curriculum. Parents and all 180 students immediately embraced the new system with an emphasis on morality and reasoning. Prior to the moral system, the school had used weekly award assemblies to recognize students with exceptional behavior. Now, teachers use individual and private words of encouragement to boost kids responsibility and respectfulness on their own. This new approach improved students academic skills, attention, and willingness to participate. Teachers saw students wanting to help others and volunteer their voices more often. Especially noted were the kids with emotional needs whom actually responded the best to the new rewards system. The best news of all for the teachers was that the students did not miss the rewards at all. The new principle continues this focus on character development and even thinks that mainstream schools should follow their lead and do away with extrinsic rewards. This study breaks all notions about reward systems for students as a way to improve behaviors. Prior to reading this article, I had been a big fan of the budge card system, but I am now seeing the downsides to extrinsic rewards in education. I feel like all teachers and parents should read this article and reconsider their approaches to parenting/teaching to improve children’s moral character and embrace the prize-free approach. Citation: Flanagan, L. (2018). How Ending Behavior Rewards Helped One School Focus on Student Motivation and Character. [online] KQED. Available at: https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/48578/how-ending-behavior-rewards-helped-one-school-focus-on-student-motivation-and-character [Accessed 6 Dec. 2018]. Pictures : https://weeklysauce.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/goodbehavior.jpg http://www.itselementary.com/~/media/products/ie/student-awards/lapel-pins/star-student/elp2066-good-behavior-award-pin-bee-000.ashx?w=450&h=450&bc=ffffff
3 Comments
Evelyn
12/11/2018 01:05:01 pm
It's definitely something to think about. Looking back, giving people rewards for doing basic tasks does seem a little unneeded.
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John
12/12/2018 10:03:43 am
This is awesome! I had no idea that rewarding people and kids for being decent human beings was actually a bad thing. I understand that these actions, helping people with work or just doing good things, should be instinct. But I did not know that this can constrict the flow of creativity and individualism. I would have never thought that this reward system affected me or other kids.
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Gabby
12/13/2018 10:22:43 am
I love how you talk about the Budge Cards! It is such a throw back and it is such a good way to make sure that people understand what you are going to be talking about throughout your post.
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Ms. Carrigan's Psych ClassWe have been reading articles about psychological studies to inform the way we live our lives. Please explore, and we hope you learn a bit about the psychology in your life! Categories
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