To the Editor:
I would like to comment on the letter that an eighth-grader wrote to another newspaper in which she questioned the wisdom of paying students for getting good grades, test scores and fulfilling other academic achievements.
Robert Davis and I have been married 46 years, have raised six children, and each has graduated from Davenport schools. Our granddaughter graduated from Assumption High School in Davenport on May 20 as a National Honor Society member with first honors while taking honors and AP classes.
Our children have all done very well. One daughter read at a college level in second grade and did cancer research at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics.
With this said, some children, especially “urban” children need an extra push to accomplish goals in their academic endeavors.
My mother taught me that to understand another’s problems you need to walk a mile in that person’s moccasins. Everyone doesn’t have the support of two parents that our children had and that the young letter writer may have.
Many children don’t receive an allowance because all income is being applied toward household bills or groceries. Although these kids have access to computers at school, they don’t have computers at home. Some teachers only accept typed papers; these financial incentives can be applied toward laptops or other educational tools.
If it takes a little extra money for students to finish high school and college, more power to them and the system that provides this incentive. In the long run, it will pay dividends to society.
Pamela Davis
Davenport
