They were paying a fifth of their yearly income to give me this gift, this opportunity. I didn't truly appreciate it. I just coasted along — grades came easily to me — and did pretty average work.

But the pursuit of good grades has lately made these transactions more businesslike. Today parents, teachers and schools pay children hard cash or give expensive gifts for getting good grades.

Good grades can open many doors in college ... For many students, a job is necessary to help pay for college. As of 2020, 25% of full-time students and 66% of part-time students worked at least ...

Although money for good work seems a simple and tempting idea, financial rewards for good exam grades or school reports make little sense because you are only valuing measurable achievements. The ...