A Little Experiment 

  Lately I've been conducting a little psychological experiment with my students.  Actually I was forced into this experiment because weather has planes grounded and mail hasn't been delivered in over a week so my bulk candy order hasn't arrived.  But let me back up a minute. 

     The way I start every morning is to come into my classroom and tape a piece of candy to each student's warm-up math assignment, the one they did yesterday.  So here's the routine, the kids come in the door and pick up a strip of paper with about 10 math problems on it.  The problems have something to do with what I'm currently trying to teach them or something I want them to get practice on since they don't do homework.  They go to their seat and start working or copying from someone else and then turn in the paper.  Later, I grade it.  If they get a high enough score they get it back the next day with a piece of candy attached.  Usually a reward-worthy grade is 80%. 

     When I started getting low on candy I upped the ante to 90%.  Back when 80% was good enough rarely did I grade a 100% paper.  In fact, most were in the 80 to 90 range and some kids even left a few blank at the bottom if they felt they had the minimum needed for the reward.  I mean, heck, why do more than you have to?  When 90% became the new threshold all of the sudden nearly everyone was getting 100's and 95's. 

     Well, for the last four days, since my supply has run out, participation has dropped to where few kids are doing the warm-up at all and grades have plummeted.  I've even been told that I am cheap because I don't go to the local store and buy some candy at ridiculous prices.  Keep in mind these are the same kids who receive all of their paper, pencils, and notebooks from the school, as well as their breakfast and lunch every day.  I suggested that the students could all pitch in and I would go to the store and purchase some candy.  That was met with righteous indignation, much like the suggestion that anyone on unemployment should take any job that comes along.  It's interesting to note that when I do have candy and I am passing it out there is rarely a thank-you uttered, not to say that it never is.  Also, after the students leave the room I am guaranteed to find no fewer than 5 wrappers discarded on the floor. 

Perhaps this very same experiment is already being conducted all across America.  It looks to me like it is.  My conclusion is that when the minimum is acceptable that is all you can expect.  And where there is no tangible reward there will be little tangible effort.