Oregon school offers car to entice kids to class

PHOENIX, Ore. — Phoenix High School students have a powerful new incentive to attend class — the chance to win a car.

Students who show up 95 percent of the time while maintaining a B average will be eligible to win a used car donated by Lithia Motors. "It's a fun opportunity to highlight that we value attendance," Principal Jani Hale said.

More and more schools across Oregon and the nation are using incentives ranging from cash to cars to encourage pupils to go to class. The schools need solid attendance figures to comply with the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

The carrot doesn't always work, however. The attendance rate at Crater High School in Central Point dropped last year when school officials held a drawing for a car. Though the reward didn't have the desired effect, the school is offering two cars this school year.

"I don't think the car giveaway had a substantial impact on attendance as a whole," said Walt Davenport, Crater High dean of students. "The goal was more about recognizing students who are doing the right thing because we spend a lot of time on interventions on students who aren't doing the right thing."

Critics say using rewards to entice pupils to attend class sends the wrong message. "You can make students come to school by bribing them to do so, but they will likely find school less appealing," said Alfie Kohn, the author of "Punished by Rewards" who lectures nationally about the harmful effects of rewards.

"People need intrinsic rewards, doing something because it's worth doing," Kohn said.

As a part of their school-wide goal to boost attendance, Crater High officials said they plan to focus on solidifying student-teacher relationships and offering an interesting curriculum. "Students have to want to attend high school; otherwise, they just won't," Davenport said.

Jillian Mortenson, a Phoenix High sophomore, said she doesn't see any harm in the car giveaway. The car might prompt some students to attend classes, and while they're at school, they might find other things that interest them. "I think only positive can come from it," she said.

But Phoenix High senior Brandon Derevan was less supportive. "I think the car giveaway is a load of nonsense," he said. "Going to school for a car is going to school for the wrong reasons."

Derevan said the opportunity to play football motivates him to show up in the morning. Athletes must have regular attendance to stay on a team.