Good grades should be rewarded with money. Right?

Educational myth 1:

Good grades should be rewarded with money. Right?
Good grades should be rewarded with money. Right?

That's what the expert says:

«Giving money for good grades is nonsense. Because by only rewarding what is measurable - in this case good grades - parents are setting the wrong incentives. The child learns that a grade is worth the effort. There is no money for other achievements, such as helping classmates with their homework. The child therefore automatically categorises helping with homework as less important. In addition, gifts of money quickly lose their effect. This is because the reward only works if the parents keep giving out money. If they stop,
the effect fizzles out. The child thinks: Now it's no longer worth it. The problem is that they don't learn with money because they are really interested, but only for the reward. But the joy of the subject matter itself should be awakened.»

Etienne Bütikofer ist Leiter des Büros für Bildungsfragen, Dozent an der Pädagogischen Hochschule Bern und Schulleiter in Kernenried / Zauggenried BE.
Etienne Bütikofer is Head of the Office for Educational Issues, lecturer at the Bern University of Teacher Education and headteacher in Kernenried / Zauggenried BE.

All parenting myths at a glance:

Parenting knowledge instead of parenting myths!
You can find all the myths in our dossier: 15 parenting myths

Read the answers to 15 parenting myths here:

  • Handy-Entzug als Strafe ist sinnvoll
  • Ein Kind mit viel Freiheiten wird verantwortungsvoller
  • Einzelkinder sind verwöhnt und können nicht teilen
  • Raufende Kinder werden kriminell
  • Wer mit seinen Kindern streitet macht sie streitsüchtig
  • Kindern sollte man nichts verbieten, da sie sonst zu kleinen Rebellen werden
  • Mit viel Spielzeug fühlt sich ein Kind geliebt
  • Scheidungskinder sind beziehungsunfähig
  • Trotzende Kinder brauchen härtere Erziehung
  • 13-Jährige kann man nicht mehr erziehen
  • Als Eltern sollte man auch beste Freunde seiner Kinder sein
  • Ab der 1. Klasse sollte ein Kind ein Smartphone erhalten
  • Früh geförderte Kinder werden erfolgreicher
  • Eine Ohrfeige hat noch keinem Kind geschadet

Diese Kampagne ist in Zusammenarbeit mit Jung von Matt entstanden.

"150 questions - 150 answers on parenting, family and school". In the 132-page guide, 51 experts have their say. New subscribers receive the booklet free of charge. A single issue costs CHF 14.90 plus postage; you can order it here.
"150 questions - 150 answers on education, family and school".
The 132-page guidebook features 51 experts. New subscribers receive the booklet free of charge. A single issue costs CHF 14.90 plus postage; you can order it here.

More educational knowledge on the subject of grades:

  • 18 questions about school and learning
    When does it make sense to start school early? How does a child learn to learn? Experts answer these and other questions in our large dossier on school and learning.
  • The old song about grades
    The assessment of pupils' performance using grades is distorting and has long been controversial. It is high time that schools moved towards a modern, fair and child-centred system of assessment. This also requires the trust of parents.
  • «How should parents react to bad grades?»
    In the new video series «And what do you think?», psychologists Stefanie Rietzler and Fabian Grolimund ask young people about school, parents, friendship and the future. In the new episode, they wanted to know from the young people how their parents should react to bad grades.
  • Pupils need feedback instead of grades
    We are no longer awarding grades until the end of year two." This sentence from the teacher triggered heated discussions at our columnist Fabian Grolimund's parents' evening. Fabian Grolimund explains what sense and nonsense he himself sees in school grades...