Friday, June 1, 2007

No One Works for Nothing

Who works for nothing? Would you? Me neither and not many of my students would either. Why do I work? Money is the obvious answer or at least for what money buys. I also work for recognition and for a sense of accomplishment. I work because I am interested in helping people. I work because I think my subject matter is interesting and meaningful. I work for many reasons besides money and so do my students. Work is no fun without some sort of pay off. Work without a payoff is slavery or at least punishment. Why and for what do my students work?
Some like to do a job because it makes them feel important or in charge of something. I wouldn't be excited to be the person who answers the door and greets visitors, but I have students who think that being a door monitor is the coolest job in choir. I pay them for doing the job also. I pay them with bucks, points and there are other names for them. Ms. Casey could give them CC's. I could call mine BB's. Who would like to take this note to the counselor for 25 BB's? I have a job that pays 100 BB's a week. Who would like to be trained to set up the computer cart before school starts each day?