Back in high school, my teachers made it clear that getting an education was the best reward one could get out of waking up at 6:00 am in the morning.

I had gotten so brainwash by that idea that missing one-day of school made me physically ill. That one day I was gone – who knows how much everyone else was learning, how far behind I was becoming. Looking back on it if I would get a time machine, I’d go back to when I was a Freshmen and tell myself to chill out. One day, even two days away from the mind numbing-ness of information would not be that bad, since I was probably going to forget all of it minute I graduated anyway.

But those people who never – ever—ever miss a day a school. They get a car. The most I ever got for going to school was annoyed looks from my math teacher when I failed to fully understand the passion that is geometry.

As good as being rewarded for doing well sounds, it must make everyone who ever cut class, or had the flu feel like crap. Was this kid the guy who came to school everyday even when he was sneezing, coughing and had a 102 fever? Or was he one of those kids who can never be late to anything and always gets to class a few minutes before everyone else does just to get the seat right up front by the teacher.

The whole reward system is a little demeaning, not to mention a complete moral killer, especially when it comes to using it in school.

The idea of being rewarded is nice, but to make it a lot fair by giving out a wide range of prizes to students of varying success. That way, no matter what GPA you have, or how perfect your attendance is you won’t feel like a complete douche.
—Eming Piansay