This is an interesting idea. I like the idea of rewarding students in certain Baltimore City schools with money. I think it would motivate students to think independently of their peers and work toward accomplishing goals.

I recall that Washington Wizards owner Abe Pollin once visited an elementary school class in Southeast Washington and promised the students that he would pay their college tuition if they graduated from high school. Instead of offering cash as Tony proposed, the state/city could implement a program similar to Mr. Pollin's. The student could also have the option of attending a trade school.

This has got to be one of the dumbest ideas I've heard in a long time. We need to get away from the whole concept of rewarding people for things they are supposed to be doing.

This is like that idea some schools across the country have adopted in recent years, where kids who keep up their attendance are eligible for prizes (even cars). Well guess what kiddies, you're SUPPOSED to go to school! Your reward is an education and all the mental and social enrichment that comes along with it.

If you want to increase availability of college scholarships and other monies for college, fine. But for graduating high school? For a kid to NOT have a baby when they are a minor? For a kid to NOT get arrested for certain crimes? Give me a break!

In a sense, I agree with Phil in Columbia. The bar which should gauge society's accepted behavior (going to school, not having children out of wedlock, etc.) would be lowered substantially. Basically, you shouldn't reward that which is expected.

However, what is considered "normal" in Baltimore's inner city is so eschewed as to be absurd. Engaging in deviant activity (skipping school and petty crime) is tantamount normal behavior. So we must find a way to re-raise that bar, and do so without permanently emplacing a standard that will always reward expected behavior.

Doling out cash isn't the answer, I don't think. I don't know, but something just feels wrong about it. Maybe something more like a "job promise" or easier access to scholarships as a reward.

By the way... Phil, you slammed the idea pretty hard. But do you have any ideas?

Ideas, per Dennis...off the top of my head: more college scholarships and grants for non-tuition (room and board costs, for example)...some kind of vocational training for those who want an alternative to a traditional bachelor's degree...better mentoring...better before and after school programs...job opportunities while still in high school. Those are just some random thoughts; thanks for asking.

we need to focus back on vocational schools. within my parents generation (baby boomers) it was completely acceptable and common to do a vo-tech path so that you could have job skills. i know there is still more vo-tech in Bmore city schools than in other places, but there should be more. let's face it, a lot of these kids are not prepared for college and pushing them towards that world will just make them give up and turn to the streets. once reagan 'refocused' us out of a manufacturing economy, the door was closed for many inner city kids, both black and white. i think some 'reward' element is OK, just think it should be tied into either community college OR vocational training.

No one seems to have noticed that it's easy for a boy to deny he's fathered a child, while it's pretty much impossible for a girl to deny she's had one. There are a lot of reasons a girl might not name the father of the baby, and there's no way you could compel every boy she knows to submit to paternity testing if she's not talking.

So she's stuck with the baby. She already gets no money, so there's no benefit to her to squeal on the dad. He might even promise her a slice of his "good behavior" pie if she stays quiet.