Yup
Positive Reinforcement Vs Negative.
Also, eliminating tax refunds is way way too much of a gap.
positive reinforcement is giving them a deduction for having kids with good grades.
otherwise i propose we get rid of the kid deduction all together. (and then you could pay parents $100 monthly if their kids have good grades... increase benefits you gotta increase taxes).
So the good grades deductions will mostly benefit families that most likely don't need it, unless you means test it. Then we're back at square one about negative reinforcement not working.
Are we trying to fix basic education or just save money? Because I agree that removing the child income tax credit would save money. Also, closing down all schools would save money too. Lots of ways to save money.
It's not about saving money, it's a way to break even and still give massive incentives out to the parents. If they don't cash in on the incentive, tax payers will get the money instead. It's an everybody wins situation, the tax payers aren't burdened with "extra" entitlements, the parents still receive a benefit, and hopefully the kids grades will improve because parents will be involved. You don't like it because it's not another handout on top of the handouts we already give?
Education starts at home, a classroom has dick all to do with it. The article I linked above about the Kansas City School Districts more than proves a few billion in a classroom doesn't do dick.
I don't think you're understanding how people rationalize this. Those families are used to getting that money. Now you're saying; hey parents, you have more work to do to maintain status quo. They'll feel like they are getting fucked and won't perform. They are discouraged.
Now all this time they've probably had a budget that includes that assistance money and they no longer get it. Your policy has hinged family finances on a child's performance. When little Billy doesn't perform, he gets the belt from drunk old dad. Your policy isn't uplifting, it's repressing. It'll strain the family dynamic between child and parent -- which is probably already pretty stressed in the case of at-risk students. The incentive only works if the child's performance is bonus.
the other option seems like people without kids are paying people with kids lots of money to be decent parents.
lets give them a cookie instead for shit they should already be doing.
like property taxes going toward schools paid by property owners that don't have kids?
To me, since taxpayers are already paying their welfare, encouraging the welfare parents to make sure the kids get decent grades forces the curve toward getting an education instead of just getting by and becoming tomorrows welfare recipients.
But as a responsible individual, with plot's idea, I don't have to pay more taxes for irresponsible people. We're telling them, teach your kids right or you're not going to get an extra $10k in January. Seems a good enough balance to me.
Yeah, so lets give them a cookie instead for shit they should already be doing.
But as a responsible individual, with plot's idea, I don't have to pay more taxes for irresponsible people. We're telling them, teach your kids right or you're not going to get an extra $10k in January. Seems a good enough balance to me.
I know you're not a fan of handholding for adults, but the potential positives are too good to ignore. Or we can do nothing and brace for another bigger generation of cretins. That is kicking the can down the road.
It's putting requirements on current entitlements. All you want to do is add more entitlements.
Package right and you can do both of the plans, reduce the tax deduction for kids by 1200, they'll never know, then pay them 100 month for attendance/standardized test scores. Child labor? Making kids study is child labor now???
You can't use normal grades because then you are pushing financial repercussions onto the teachers who may be influenced to pass everyone then.
These low income people already receive a ton of free money. What makes you think THIS money will make the difference?