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**Written by Doug Powers

Remember when Newt Gingrich suggested that schools should hire students to do janitorial-type work so they could make some money and develop a work ethic? This is kind of similar, except without the extra work but still with the money.

From the Cincinnati Enquirer:

A charter high school near Cincinnati will begin paying students this week as part of an experiment to get more students to attend class.

The principal at Dohn Community High School tells The Cincinnati Enquirer students who are on time every day, avoid trouble and show they’re working in class will get Visa gift cards worth $25 for seniors and $10 for younger students.

When a student earns a gift card, $5 will be put in a savings account that can be paid out at graduation. A combination of private and federal dollars will fund the estimated $40,000 cost this year.

Camden, New Jersey tried something similar recently, but they only paid students who had attendance problems, which is a good way to motivate the rest of the kids… to start having attendance problems.

I don’t know if this “paying kids who are on time and attentive all day” thing will last long. First of all, it will almost certainly be found to discriminate against hypersomniacs and the chronically unmotivated:

**Written by Doug Powers

Twitter @ThePowersThatBe