“There are in nature neither rewards nor punishments — there are consequences.” Words of wisdom from American lawyer Robert G. Ingersoll. A few days ago, a friend of mine asked me whether it is good to reward students for their positive behaviour in academic situations. What prompted him to ask this question was a situation in which he had to answer the same question in an interview with the Principal of the school where he wanted to admit his ward.
Let’s take a journey back to our school days. Most of us were rewarded on various occasions. What impact did those rewards have on us? Have they really enriched our lives? Do they help learners blossom? Do they promote healthy competition among students? Many teachers believe that rewards motivate students to perform better; but do they really lead to sustained scholastic achievement? A thorough study and deep reflection on these questions will lead us to the reality.
The word ‘reward’ has a positive connotation in every culture. Almost everyone seems to think that it has a positive effect as they associate reward with recognition. Everyone needs recognition and has a thirst for it. As American writer Dale Carnegie says, “People work for money but go the extra mile for recognition, praise and rewards.” Rewards have a positive effect, but not always. They do have a negative effect on students in academic situations, as some studies have shown.
Rewards, if they are extrinsic, cannot sustain students’ motivation level. In academic situations, students who are given rewards for their positive behaviour or for producing better results may get addicted to rewards. When we give rewards to students in the form of a prize, it will give momentary gratification to the students, but they will start expecting more rewards whenever they outperform others. And when they fail to get rewards, they will be disappointed. This addiction makes them perform well only if they are given rewards. When they don’t get them they feel dejected and rejected. The feeling of insecurity kicks them out of the comfort zone and makes them feel inferior to others. Some are induced to achieve rewards by hook by or crook.
Unfair treatment
What happens to those learners who do not get rewards? They develop inferiority complex and become victims of unhealthy competition which results in rivalry among them. Assume, in a class of 40 students, three students get rewards for their outstanding performance, thirty students get neither rewards nor punishment for their average performance and seven students get punishment for poor performance. How does each student feel? Will they take the rewards and punishments in a sportive manner? No. Those who were rewarded might feel superior to others and those who were punished might be forced to feel that they are inferior to others. The students carry this burden with them throughout their lives and it hampers their mental growth. This is common in many educational institutions where most students are labeled as ‘slow learners’, ‘good for nothing’, ‘idlers’, and so on, and thrown out of the inner circle. What are the alternatives to rewards? Teachers need to play a constructive role. It is good to give a pat on the back whenever a learner shows signs of improvement. Teachers should promote healthy competition among students without comparing anyone’s scholastic achievement. They should encourage students to perform better, appreciate them for their behavior, tell them that there is nothing wrong in losing a competition, and make them believe that each person is unique. By doing so, they will spark intrinsic motivation within the learners.
Educational institutions can help learners blossom only if they have caring teachers. Such teachers, in the words of Brad Henry, former Governor of Oklahoma, are those who can “inspire hope, ignite the imagination and instil a love of learning.” This is possible only if educational institutions do away with the habit of giving rewards to students.
The author is professor of English and Head, Higher Education, KCG College of Technology, Chennai. The column will focus on issues in education. rayanal@yahoo.co.uk.
