This was an issue with some of the critics when the movie was released in 1987. I suppose that they needed that storyline to interject Mr. Shoop's involvement with the kids, helping them outside the classroom with their needs. Do you think the kids still would have been willing to learn over time had they not needed any "favors?"
Joe
Over time, yes, but not within Mr Shoop's time limit. These kids had short attention spans and were about as alert as Mr Hand's class in Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
"There is no escape, John!"
There are a lot of schools out there now that have made a "fallback" to the whole " chart and gold stars" for good behaviour and achievements of any kind. While this isnt exactly what they did in the movie it still kinda fits. I guess it kinda goes back to that old" I learned everything I needed to learn in kindergarten" Besides teaching is hard enough in this day and time and yes even back in the 80's. Respect doesnt seem to come around anymore and if it works dont knock it. There are groups out there actually paying kids money for good grades and even just for showing up. Sad I know.
Jack Sparrow:Now where is that monkey? I want to shoot something!
Well, I didn't know that. Of course, you needed to have that so the story could advance. I like the part where Shoop flips out about the renegotiation stuff. He was right-he was trying to help them improve themselves and sacrificed a lot and ended up with more problems. I would've quit too. I'll tell you the problem I had with the film-Rhonda's teen pregnancy. You can't really treat a subject like that lightly. Juno did a better job.
shareThat still happens today. Many students do no work without rewards.
shareAs a teacher, I'd have to say the bribing was definitely necessary and realistic to a certain extent. These kids didn't want to be there in the first place and it wasn't enough that they showed up- they had to pass the test. I don't know about the extent of their requests- I definitely don't want to be involved with my students outside of school for legal reasons. However, we do reward within the classroom as positive reinforcement. Free time, candy, homework pass, etc. We try to do this sparingly but we definitely do it. Stickers, gold stars, etc- all these are rewards. So it's not just at the elementary school level.
Don't we as adults reward ourselves as well when we are trying to accomplish something that's hard or that we don't want to do? After I finished my Master's, my husband took me to New York City as a reward and we had been planning that for awhile and I LIKE school.:)
In a perfect world, it wouldn't be necessary but it certainly helps to make things more bearable.
If you're dealing with students who are not intrinsically motivated than at least with the reward, you've got them accomplishing something. Once they have gained those skills, hopefully later on, they won't need much external rewards. They will have gained some knowledge, skill, and confidence to help carry them through the next stage of their life. That's the ultimate goal. If the students are already motivated, than the reward is a nice affirmation.
I also really liked the ending when they pointed out that EVEN though these students did not pass the test, every single one of them IMPROVED from their previous score and THAT is an accomplishment. That was a great message. I think this is what needs to be celebrated with every student and everybody and especially with standardized test scores. Look at the improvement over time and not just the final result.
No issue with it. At the beginning they were slackers, but by the end, they had understood how valuable their education was. It all comes around at end.
shareI only work for a paycheck...
Claim jealousy if my opinion differs? I'll assume you're not out of middle school.