Failure brings its own rewards

Here society bribes kids with an iPod to get them to study. In Beijing you can't keep them away

Unemployed teenagers are being bought £170 iPod MP3 players with taxpayers’ money when they complete a course in “life and job skills”. The course is aimed at NEETS — teenagers Not in Employment Education Training or School.

The decision to tempt the youngsters back into education follows the introduction of a reward scheme at schools in Glasgow where pupils who choose healthy food earn points which can be saved to claim prizes such as MP3 players and Xbox games consoles.

The iPod initiative at one of Britain’s largest further education colleges was condemned by the Campaign for Real Education, an independent pressure group. Nick Seaton, its chairman, said the offer of a reward just for taking the course sent out the wrong message.

He said: “It looks like bribery. It tells young people that they don’t have to do anything unless they’re getting a sweetener for it, which is wrong. The money could have been spent better on books or getting more teachers into schools.”

Uhh... That's because it is bribery!

Other incentives for the teenage recruits include payment of £50 for one day’s work experience a week, free travel, lunches and childcare and a £100 bonus plus the iPod when they complete the course. They will also receive another £100 if they sign up for another course.

The bill for the rewards, which could total £119,000 for the iPods and around £750,000 including the other benefits, will be met by the taxpayer.

Mr. Brown, I want a refund. I am handing you my hard earned cash so that ill educated idiots can be bribed with gadgets and cash. If they cannot see that an education is a reward in itself then idiots they will remain until their dying day.

NEETS = Lazy, Good For Nothing Bums.

All of my kids do well in school. Part of the reason they do well is that my wife and I are never off their backs. Forcing them to study, paying for extra tuition, stressing the importance of a good education and giving them a bloody hard time if they start slacking.

If my kids want an iPod or £100, they have to get it from me. I might be able to afford it if I wasn't already supplying free iPods to a bunch of NEETS.

Success brings its own rewards. Seems that these days, so does failure.

Filed under: Politics, New Labour Spin