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for larger version       Bribery Cripples,Not Helps I'm writing to you to discuss an issue I as a student feel compelled to address. That is the issue of the use of monetary and/or items with much monetary value to motivate minority, and lower income children to do well in school. I feel that ultimately the use of these items amounts to bribery, cripples the child from achieving academic success, and acts as a strain on the city's coffers. An example of this policy is the recent announcement by Chancellor Joel Klein that in several schools a pilot program would start up that would reward children for good grades with a high tech cellphone. This is unacceptable. Thousands of children in the city of New York excel in school, where are their cell phones? Not only that but this initiative along with many other money for grades measures do not go the distance to solving the problems which affect the students this program targets. This only acts like a Band-Aid to cover up the true problems in economically disadvantaged areas, which is the battle schools are currently fighting for the minds and education of children against the outside world. This situation does not demand a cell phone or a couple of bucks but instead a comprehensive and unwavering war by the government to instill an intrinsic desire to learn in the hearts and minds of the children in poor areas who need education the most. Instead, of placing a cell phone in a child's ear we should put a book in his hands. Also, this cell phone plan opens up a legal can of worms in many senses. First, because they are disseminating 2500 phones when they can't control the trafficking of the existing phones. Additionally, they are distributing them on school property promoting the notion that it is okay to carry a phone in school. This is simply asinine. Also, on top of that because the DOE is paying for the phones they can potentially cause a dispute over privacy rights, and will they be monitoring the child's phone calls and movement. DAVID STUFFERMAN
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