Bribed to stay at school

[Duke Malcolm]

I am approaching my non-compulsory years at school -- 5th year and 6th year. I have been given the option to leave, and refused, since I wish to achieve highers and advanced highers, and thence go on to university. Guidance teachers at my school has told everyone in my year thatif their parents earn less than a certain amount of money, then they should apply to get the EMA, education maintainance allowance. There are 2 reasons why I am not applying to get this:

1. It is a bribe to get children to stay at school, I am firstly against such a principle, and secondly am staying on at school regardless of any bribe...

1. My parents earn more than the amount...

Auntie Provides:

Link

No people in my school are staying on at school simply because of this money, they are merely milking the naivety of the system, and the left-handed Scottish Executive, who believe that the lower classes need money to stay at school. Also, they want everyone to go to university, but I fail to see the benefits in this.

Perhaps the people of the .Org could share their views on the scheme in the link above...

[Productivity]

It's just a Pigouvian subsidy. Perfectly rational behaviour in response to a positive externality.

[King Henry V]

Money for good behaviour? If someone doesn't behave at my school the get detentions for the rest of the year. If they don't do those then there's the Discipline Council, who decides upon expulsion or not. Between that there are a few little chats with the Headmaster, who was once an Army officer. Boy, nobody comes out of that office unshaken at the very least.

[BDC]

Yeah. It's a good idea, but flawed. Why should I not be paid the same amount for doing exactly the same amount as a someone else?

Plus whenever anyone complains at school about costs (free education my backside) the heads just go on about the EMA. The twats.

I don't get it either.

[Sjakihata]

Yeah. It's a good idea, but flawed. Why should I not be paid the same amount for doing exactly the same amount as a someone else?

because someone else havent got parents that can take them on vacation, buy them new school tools and the best books etc - it seems obvious.

[Big King Sanctaphrax]

because someone else havent got parents that can take them on vacation, buy them new school tools and the best books etc - it seems obvious.

As some have highlighted already, the main problem with this is that it goes to the students, not the parents. The last thing the vast majority of kids who get the subsidy are going to spend it on is textbooks.

[BDC]

because someone else havent got parents that can take them on vacation, buy them new school tools and the best books etc - it seems obvious.

Yeah, but they do. It's flawed. It doesn't take into account anything except income.

Assume person A's parents earn £20,000 but person B's earn twice that. So A looks much poorer, etc, gets the cash. Then take into account A's live in an ex-council house and pay hardly anything for it, whilst B's have a crippling morgage because of this country's staggering house prices. Who has more disposible income? Guess who! That's right, A. And they get £20 a week for going to school, whilst B has to work 4 hours at the weekend or whenever to earn that.

[Duke Malcolm]

Money for good behaviour? If someone doesn't behave at my school the get detentions for the rest of the year. If they don't do those then there's the Discipline Council, who decides upon expulsion or not. Between that there are a few little chats with the Headmaster, who was once an Army officer. Boy, nobody comes out of that office unshaken at the very least.

The money is merely for attendance. A bonus is for good behaviour...

because someone else havent got parents that can take them on vacation, buy them new school tools and the best books etc - it seems obvious.

Yes, it is good if thought of like that, but the legal guardians already get money for school things. The EMA goes directly to the pupil for whatever he wishes -- drink, drugs, tobacco, and various fashion items, usually. Almost all the people who are going to try and claim the money in my school do not need it, it is merely extra cash in their pockets for the weekends...

[Goofball]

No people in my school are staying on at school simply because of this money, they are merely milking the naivety of the system, and the left-handed Scottish Executive, who believe that the lower classes need money to stay at school. Also, they want everyone to go to university, but I fail to see the benefits in this.

Perhaps the people of the .Org could share their views on the scheme in the link above...

I think it's an excellent idea. It will help combat two different reasons why young people leave school prematurely:

1) Having never really had decent paying jobs before, they are lured by the seemingly high pay of full time, but (in the long term) dead-end jobs;

and

2) Their families may be putting pressure on them to start "contributing" to the household.

This may not solve the problems completely, but it certainly can't hurt.

[ah_dut]

Err most people I know on it (about 50) spend it on drinks, drugs and tobacco as outlined by BDC. They're smart people and were all going to stat on anyways. It's just an incentive to get some free beer/pot...you in favour? I am...laughs

[King Henry V]

IMO, the knowledge of a good job which brings on better living conditions should be enough of an incentive for people to study and work hard at school. If they only respond to having money dangled in front of their nose then they will not succeed for long in the real world.

[ShadesPanther]

I'm not saying it's a bad idea. I think it is a good idea for less privlidged kids. But as in the example of my friend it can be abused easily and go to people who don't really need it.
One way maybe would be to look at the tax forms and if a family falls into a criteria and has a child at school going on to do AS levels then give it to the child.