Rent-a-crowd students

I'm not above bribing my kids to get their best effort in studying. And I have no problem with schools recognizing high-achieving students. But no school has any business promoting the notion that students should be paid to take advantage of the free educational opportunities available in this country.

Forty students from Creekside High and Bear Creek Middle schools in Fairburn will be the first to try the "Learn & Earn" program, where students will get paid to attend after-school tutoring programs.

Students will make approximately $8 an hour, and be eligible for bonuses if their grades improve, said Kirk Wilks, district spokesman. The initial students are in the eighth and 11th grades...

The object of the program is to determine if paying students to study will improve classroom attendance, grades and test scores, according to a news release from the district.

I wonder how many students from "disadvantaged" backgrounds who managed to discipline themselves and do well without this program will now think they were being foolish. Maybe if they let their grades slide, they can start earning money off the school district.