Amanda Ripley published an informative article in the 19 April issue of Time Magazine describing a controversial experiment of offering children cash incentives for high performance in school. Many educators objected to the cash awards because they felt strongly that children should study for the love of learning, not for the promise of a cash reward.
What I found interesting about the story was that children responded to the incentive. The experiment had four separate reward models: some for test scores, some for various factors, some for grades, and some for the quality of books read. Reading boosted reading-comprehension scores as measured by standardized tests.
While reading Ms. Ripley’s article, I felt inspired and encouraged. I’m a huge believer in the power of the written word and I believe that if writers provide children with literature that interests them, writers can influence the students’ educational journey. This study that Ms. Ripley reported on confirms the power literature has in shaping lives.
Reading this article has inspired me to write my next manuscript. I’m going to write specifically for at-risk adolescents. I intend to write stories that will inspire them to pursue education, and inform them of the consequences that follow those who sacrifice education for the temptations of the street life. I will seek corporate sponsorship to fund the production of the new book in order to give it to at-risk adolescents free of charge. It’s an exciting project that will keep me busy through the summer.
This morning I attended the youth outreach program (TOAD) at Taft Camp. We have several participants in the program who began making bad decisions during their teens and now serve long prison terms. I hope to include their stories in the new manuscript.
Ran 10 miles.
[consecutive running log: 4,399 miles over 495 days]
Wednesday, 21 April 2010
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