Geoffrey Canada Reflection by Ramsey Musallam https://padlet.com/ramseymusallam/i4mxwg4bztukro6 en-us 2022-11-19 08:15:57 UTC 2022-11-28 21:53:33 UTC hello@padlet.com Nicole Vollmer's Reflection https://padlet.com/ramseymusallam/i4mxwg4bztukro6/wish/2391189926 When Geoffrey Canada states, “I love to bribe kids…sure I would love them to do it for the intrinsic value…but until then, I would love them to do it for money. I don’t care, I just want them to do it,” I would say that both agree and disagree with the statement. The objectives of the program to close the achievement gap of students of color and get their students to college. Using items, trips, or money to motivate children to complete their work and develop skills isn't out of the realm of helpful incentives. However, intrinsic motivation is the ultimate goal, but if you're a child in an environment that may not provide proper support and modeling for that behavior then it may be hard to develop it. Skinner would say to slowly take away the incentive as the behavior becomes constant, but each student is different and that has to be taken into account. The "bribes" that Canada is offering isn't crazy, he is offering experiences that they may not be able to have and money they may not be able to have that they could save as they grow up or invest. The bribes could have the potential to provide opportunities to develop skills, responsibility, accountability, and natural consequences that students would learn in other instances. It provides value in their work as well. This type of behavior can possibly relate to careers/jobs where you work your way up the latter to get promotions, salary increases, and other incentives. Overall, I think if it works and students are developing their skills effectively as well as gaining experiences they may not have had then I am for it. I would be worried that it could create an expectation of wanting something every time they complete a task and that may not be available in other environments. However, I believe that intrinsic motivation is important too. If there is a balance that can be achieved, then I am all for it. ]]> 2022-11-20 02:19:31 UTC https://padlet.com/ramseymusallam/i4mxwg4bztukro6/wish/2391189926 Halle Kortlander https://padlet.com/ramseymusallam/i4mxwg4bztukro6/wish/2391607319 I am shocked that this is the first time I've heard about Geoffrey Canada. His work is absolutely incredible. I work at a Title 1 and really, the success he has established for his kids is the dream and the goal. He has created conditions where children, with home lives that are extraordinary challenging, now have equitable learning opportunities to that of students from affluent families not experiencing challenges. I have seen the achievement discrepancy between black and white kids at my school first hand, and for him to completely eliminate the learning gap in elementary school is astounding. Canada states, “I love to bribe kids…sure I would love them to do it for the intrinsic value…but until then, I would love them to do it for money. I don’t care, I just want them to do it.” I whole heatedly agree. He is providing opportunities and incentivizing students to invest in their academic careers. I think incentives are incredibly effective, I know they work for me, and five year olds don't really grasp the concept of "I should really try to learn all of my snap words because that will snowball into good reading, which will make me more successful." But I know that to be true, so to incentivize my kids, our reading superhero, Reader Man leaves us superhero capes and whoever knows all of their snap words proves that they are a super reader and gets a superhero cape. And it works!! Kids love it and work hard to earn it. There is a line to be toed that we don't want kids asking the question "What's in it for me?" everytime we ask them to do something. I do think that working towards earning something does promote good work habits which can translate to intrinsic value. Overall, Canada has proven that his method works and his kids set and achieve high goals for themselves, so I support his methods. ]]> 2022-11-20 18:34:03 UTC https://padlet.com/ramseymusallam/i4mxwg4bztukro6/wish/2391607319 Becca Byrne https://padlet.com/ramseymusallam/i4mxwg4bztukro6/wish/2391670803 When watching the video about Harlem Children's Zone, I was very intrigued to hear about how Dr. Canada was able to eliminate the achievement gap in Math and English with 100% of his 3rd grade elementary students scoring at or above the grade level test. With hearing about how he did it through "bribing" and other tactics, it's hard to agree or disagree with this statement, as he clearly has great results with how he's running school. On the other hand, I wouldn't want students to have a mentality that they will get a reward for something every time they complete a task. However, I really think Dr. Canada is shaping these young minds with giving them the mentality that they have the power to achieve whatever they want to do. I loved the part of the video where they interviewed a fifth grader, who stated he wants to go to Stanford and become a CEO, with reasoning being that "they get paid better". These students understand the importance of investing in their academics and having goals that are achievable. Dr. Canada has given these students the opportunity of a lifetime, with offering them amazing rewards when they do a great job in school. Overall, I think Dr. Canada's strategies work, and I am shocked that I've never heard of this school before with the amount of success it has reached. ]]> 2022-11-20 20:31:32 UTC https://padlet.com/ramseymusallam/i4mxwg4bztukro6/wish/2391670803 Monica Ashcraft https://padlet.com/ramseymusallam/i4mxwg4bztukro6/wish/2392007353 As soon as Canada (and Cooper) said that the Promise Academy offers free medical, dental, and mental health services, I was hard-pressed to dislike whatever he said. He may "love to bribe kids" but many other things happen for that bribe to even be possible. Any school with the means could offer bribes, but that doesn't mean students can actually have a chance to earn the reward. If students are suffering in the way that Canada described his childhood, trying not to get shot, beat up, etc., how will they earn an academic bribe? Starting with parenting classes, pre-K programs, after-school programs, and keeping the student-to-teacher ratio low goes a long way. Making sure each child is fed and has access to social and medical services is critical to success. Since the students at Promise Academy have access to all of this, then they have the opportunity to earn awards. By all means, bribe them. They can learn intrinsic motivation in some other way. Do I love the idea of paying students for grades? No. And I love charter schools with a lottery system that enforces strict discipline and dress codes even less. However, I can forgive a lot when the whole student is cared for in such a thorough way.  ]]> 2022-11-21 04:21:22 UTC https://padlet.com/ramseymusallam/i4mxwg4bztukro6/wish/2392007353 Talyha Romo https://padlet.com/ramseymusallam/i4mxwg4bztukro6/wish/2392057578 As I began to reflect on the information gathered from the video, I began to think of my classroom practices. I initially thought that always rewarding students for meeting their expectations was wrong. Students shouldn’t expect something in return when meeting their expectations. However, Closing the achievement gap by bribing students caught my attention. Dr.Canada states that rewarding students with trips and money has increased student engagement and productivity. As I reflect on my classroom and practices, I find myself doing just this in my role of class advisor. My students and their families have been driven and have worked tirelessly fundraising this semester. When asked to be the advisor for the class of 2023, I asked the class where they wanted to go for their senior trip. They wanted to go to Disneyland; however, due to Covid, we could not fundraise for two years. As they entered their Senior year, they had about 3,000 dollars in their senior account. We had a class meeting and created a game plan for what they wanted to do. They decided as a class they would work very hard to meet their goal and fundraise every opportunity they had. They did not disappoint, and neither did their families. Parents and students showed up event after event. The class of 2023 surpassed their $10,000 goal for Disney. Tickets, buses, and hotel rooms have been reserved and paid off. All 40 students will pay no more than $50 to attend the senior trip. Students wanted everyone to have the opportunity to go on the trip, and they worked so hard. This reminded me of Dr.Canada and his work. My students will receive a trip for working hard and fundraising. Knowing that something incredible is at the end of the journey makes working hard more rewarding. I am not suggesting it is okay under every circumstance but at times, achieving some things and receiving an award brings people together. ]]> 2022-11-21 05:15:52 UTC https://padlet.com/ramseymusallam/i4mxwg4bztukro6/wish/2392057578 Scott Wallach https://padlet.com/ramseymusallam/i4mxwg4bztukro6/wish/2392982822 I had many thoughts about the 60 Minutes clip. When looking at Canada's statement bribing the students I initially felt like it was a strange aspect for Cooper to focus on. The bribe for students who attend school and do well is such a small part of what Canada is doing, but it does make a great sound bite. The simple act of the bribe would definitely seem surprising to someone who is not an educator, but the school system bribes students all the time. The entire basis of how we evaluate students. If a student can perform to a certain set of standards, we give them a good grade. That grade can contribute towards a diploma. The grading system is absolutely a bribe for students who fit with the specific expectations, even if they do not want to fit with those expectations. Due to this, I don't really have a problem with Canada paying students who do well. The most striking aspect of the entire video was when Cooper seemed flabbergasted by the amount of money it cost per student for the pipeline program. $5,000 per child is such a tiny amount when you think about the things Canada brings up (prison or the juvenile detention system) or even just look at state budgets. The United States has never truly invested in the education of our youth in this way. Schools should absolutely be community hubs for healthcare, food, parenting classes, and everything else Canada has going. While I disagree with the idea of charter schools like this, the behavior management that is often present, and the way Canada is singularly focused on college as a goal, I wish this kind of system was throughout the entire country.]]> 2022-11-21 17:50:43 UTC https://padlet.com/ramseymusallam/i4mxwg4bztukro6/wish/2392982822 Delaney Phipps https://padlet.com/ramseymusallam/i4mxwg4bztukro6/wish/2393209049 After watching the "Harlem Children Zone" episode I am left with many thoughts. But specifically speaking on Dr. Canada's statement, it is hard to make a stance. With all of the success that Canada has made it's hard to say that the "bribes" are working. Although I do not agree that students should be getting paid for good grades, he has a great system put in place for students to understand well-being, and attending to the whole student. I was really interested about this school as it is set up very similar to my school. Students are held to a strict dress code, discipline policy, made fresh food, doctors & health service buildings, and are living on campus. All of these things were very similar to my current wheel house, it was interesting to identify our gaps. It was interesting to see that they had closed the achievement gap, but I wanted to know how. If it wasn't, what would have happened? It seemed that Canada was ready to just fire about anybody for not assisting students in success. Overall, I want to say Canada's practices are crazy, but I can see the benefit of them within my own school.]]> 2022-11-21 21:47:47 UTC https://padlet.com/ramseymusallam/i4mxwg4bztukro6/wish/2393209049 Monica Fisher https://padlet.com/ramseymusallam/i4mxwg4bztukro6/wish/2393372253 I believe Geoffrey Canada's statement about 'bribing' students into working hard or getting  excellent test scores was actually kind of minimal when I reflected on the Harlem Children's Zone School and Community. Providing a trip or offering monetary compensation is pennies in comparison to the resources and commitment made to each child if they are enrolled in the school. The level of motivation and desire from parent's wanting their child there to the end goal of seeing them through with a college degree is a much more enticing promise that I do see creating lifelong intrinsic motivation. Sure, I definitely see a child who faces adversity in their life that impacts their learning to be highly motivated by a check but I beg to argue that this incentive is more like a cherry on top. I want to believe that the "buy-in" to do good and achieve greatness is already set for not only the student but also for the family supporting that student as soon as they are enrolled. This is what stands out to me. Most families are walking into Harlem Children's Zone believing in Geoffrey Canada's mission and what is in store for their child. That could have helped contributed to the achievement gap being essentially closed-- because they did not feel this way prior or the schools did not demonstrate the same level of awareness or care for their child's learning experience. Their academics were a priority, but so was their health and wellness. He even knew the benefits of outreach and community but creating the "Pipeline of Free Programs" to further extend the notion that if you participate, your child will still go on to college. He will not let you out of the pipeline until you have graduated from college, this is the behavior parents and students want from educators.
There is much to praise when thinking of this video but there is also the cold reality of the sustainability aspect of it all.
Although $5000 is cheaper than what it cost to house an inmate, who is going to continuosly pay it? When the charter school cannot teach every student, just how effective is the pipeline of free programs? It 's worth watching any follow up videos to see how well it was able to maintain and how they attempted to repeat his efforts in other cities. ]]> 2022-11-22 01:25:54 UTC https://padlet.com/ramseymusallam/i4mxwg4bztukro6/wish/2393372253 Megan Braia https://padlet.com/ramseymusallam/i4mxwg4bztukro6/wish/2393470134 Geoffrey Canada states, “I love to bribe kids…sure I would love them to do it for the intrinsic value…but until then, I would love them to do it for money. I don’t care, I just want them to do it.”

I agree with this statement to an extent. I have to admit, as parent, I bribe my kids all the time! I want them to get jobs done because I know they will feel good doing it, as well as   the satisfaction of a job well done afterward. But often the starting motivation isn't there. They need more buy-in.

Intrinsic motivation happens in three ways according to the Lima Delta Website:
"Three types of intrinsic motivation
  • Autonomy - We are much more likely to engage with activities we have chosen to do.
  • Mastery - We are intrinsically motivated to get better and better at things that matter to us.
  • Purpose - We are motivated when our actions are in service of something larger than ourselves."
These types of motivators should be offered to children and students, but so should extrinsic motivators. Just as adults see jobs as a way to make money. Yet, we also want to feel satisfaction while we do it, so we look for those 3 qualities. However, I don't know anyone who took up a job without talking about pay and benefits first, and secondly, we can only predict and trust that our job will be satisfying before we start. So I equate that to Canada's statement-get the kids hired for the job and working, then the other motivators will hopefully fall into place, and the program he provides overall tells me it will. I think the autonomy, mastery, and purpose become sharpened over time and he is banking on that. I also think that with kids with financial insecurities at home, knowing a reward is there will be worth their time and shows that they are valued. 
https://www.limadelta.co.uk/post/three-types-of-intrinsic-motivation-and-how-to-use-them-in-learning
]]> 2022-11-22 02:53:56 UTC https://padlet.com/ramseymusallam/i4mxwg4bztukro6/wish/2393470134 Valeria Garcia https://padlet.com/ramseymusallam/i4mxwg4bztukro6/wish/2393763742 As I watched Harlem Children’s Zone, I kept on asking myself if it is correct to bribe kids to a certain extent. But the more I think about it, the more I believe that’s how humans are wired. For example, when a student starts kindergarten, they are taught to behave well and if they do so, they are given a sticker or allowed to have free play at the end of the day. As adults, I feel that we carry out certain actions in exchange for something. I personally think that Dr. Canada is doing a phenomenal job at creating a college pipeline for these underserved, underprivileged kids by bribing the students in the Harlem area, especially if these students come from broken homes. Unfortunately, it is known that those students who come from broken homes are most likely to repeat the cycles of poverty and abuse. To a certain extent, he is setting high expectations that they may not have at home and students need motivation to keep moving forward. Not only is he bribing kids to do well in school and compensating them for it, he is offering some of the services they may not have access to outside of school, services such as dental or mental access. What was most astounding to me was the fact that it costs approximately $5,000 per student each year to educate them, less than what it costs to have them in jail without anything in return. If bribing students to earn a degree and keeping them off the streets is working, I say, keep on doing it. ]]> 2022-11-22 07:54:26 UTC https://padlet.com/ramseymusallam/i4mxwg4bztukro6/wish/2393763742 Danielle Brown https://padlet.com/ramseymusallam/i4mxwg4bztukro6/wish/2400959130 I was totally onboard with Canada, who wouldn’t love what he is doing for the Harlem community.I Free medical, mental, and dental healthcare to help children and families ‘get out’, and that he sees children into college and through college. As well as provide the pipeline of services to the families that aren;t able to make the drawing and the baby college are all impressive and necessary services to help everyone in the community. What really stuck with me is when Canada said that it costs more if they don’t send the students to college. That there is a detriment not only to the student but to the community and society as a whole, and how true that is. Another thing that stuck out to me what when Canada mention that the students are responsible. I would have had a few follow up questions to that, but his philosophy of whatever it takes (ie. bribery) I’m all for and reminds me of Skinner videos where he mentions about student curiosity in the same way, that students will eventually want to learn for the intrinsic value not just to satisfy a need.]]> 2022-11-28 21:51:02 UTC https://padlet.com/ramseymusallam/i4mxwg4bztukro6/wish/2400959130