Paid To Be Parents

Posted by Barbara Pytel Nov 2, 2007

What if you got paid to take your children to the dentist, go to conferences and go to the library...would you change your behavior? New York City is about to find out.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg is conducting an experiment with private funds. Will parents do the right thing for up to $5000 a year? There are 28 activities that will qualify parents for payment. Some are

• get a library card for your child, $50
• take child to the dentist twice a year, $100
• recertify child for Medicaid, $40
• get an annual checkup, $200
• child receives good grades, $600
• attend school conferences, $25

The two-year program was pioneered in Mexico. Yes, Mexico. 3000 families at the poverty level are signed up for the program with half falling into a control group without receiving payment. Families could increase income up to 25 percent. I look forward to learning the results. Will parents become better parents if paid? [David Seifman, New York Post, nypost.com, September 13, 2007]

Read previous articles on Educational Issues.

Copyright article 2007 Barbara Pytel. All Rights Reserved.