Burn and Rave

I morally oppose pay for performance for teachers, doctors, and now students!  Yes.  There was an article this morning in the Chicago Tribune about pay students for getting good grades.  I find it depraving that the society can no longer trust that teachers, doctors, and students are doing their best, but rather have to pay people extra for doing what they are hired to do anyway. 

People are not rabbits, so the government, the hospitals, and the schools should not wave the promise of cash like carrots as a way motivating factor.  We need to bring back integrity, where people will do their best no matter who’s watching, no matter how much they are getting paid.  As a pediatrician, I could probably work in Iowa making a cushing $300,000 in private practice or making $100,000 in an urban underserved community, which is my intention, but either way I plan on giving patients the best care possible, ordering the tests I think will direct treatment and management, and always offering prevention guidelines.  I am ashamed of my medical profession for leading legislators to think that offering monetary incentives will improve care, and shame on the legislators for treating us like rabbits.

The people advocating paying students say that suburban middle class parents have use this method for many years to motivate their own children, so since the parents of many inner city students can’t afford that allowance, the government is going to step in to help.  Well, I think the government can do a lot more than treating the students like rabbits to help.  My mother NEVER gave me money for good grades, and coming from an Asian family, it was just expected.  Sadly, society doesn’t expect great things from the youth today.  In fact, here’s a book about challenging today’s youth to do hard things, to get up and do something.  Speaking of books, what a novel idea, to encourage parents to take their children to their local library to encourage curiosity and learning.  During my family medicine rotation in an inner city clinic, more than 90% of parents didn’t have plans for their kids this summer, specifically no plans to go to the library.  Other great resources that already exist are museums and the zoos.  Admission is free with a pass from the library.  What a novel idea it is to put the responsibility of raising kids back into the parents’ control. 

Chicago should put the money into a campaign to educate moms and dads on free resources they can use to get their kids interested in school and society.  Don’t give that kid with a “C” $20 like he’s a rabbit.  Challenge his parents to take him to the library so he can read about rabbits or the zoo to see zebras and lions.  Recognize outstanding community leaders who can inspire the students to be more than hip hop stars and basketball players.  Teach the students that life can be more than just going after the carrots.  It’s about working hard, helping other people, and striving to make the world a better place.

Isn’t that why people become teachers and doctors?  Well, I challenge not just the doctors and the teachers, but really, all humans to strive to do their best at any task they take on at work or at home or in their church.  Do your best not because you’re getting cash, but because you can and you care.