Education

Starry Messenger

(32,375 posts) Fri Oct 12, 2012, 07:51 AM Oct 2012

Charter school: Enroll here, get a free Nintendo DSi

(Heads up, if you hit the link, there's a video of the story that plays automatically. Irritating.)

http://www.wtsp.com/news/article/277603/8/Charter-school-Enroll-here-get-a-free-Nintendo-DSi

The Manatee School of Arts & Sciences is offering a free Nintendo DSi to families who sign their children up this week. The deadline coincides with when the state will start surveying schools, deciding funding based on how many students are enrolled. Each additional full-time student earns a school about $6,300, enough to buy about 42 Nintendo DSis.

<snip>

Is it a fair way to attract students, or a gimmick? It depends on who you ask.

Manatee County School Board member Julie Aranibar told 10 News off-camera that her biggest concern is that incentives like this could attract families to schools for the wrong reasons.

During the 2011-2012 school year, Manatee School of Arts & Sciences earned a "C" grade from the state based on test scores. The prior school year, the school was given a "D."

6 replies

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Charter school: Enroll here, get a free Nintendo DSi (Original Post) Starry Messenger Oct 2012 OP

And give them a toy to get addicted to so they won't do their homework. madaboutharry Oct 2012 #1

The happy meal approach! Waltons_Mtn Oct 2012 #2

Public schools in some areas exboyfil Oct 2012 #3

My state has LWolf Oct 2012 #4

charter schools have been doing stuff like this in nyc too. HiPointDem Oct 2012 #5

All the charters here do this. proud2BlibKansan Oct 2012 #6

madaboutharry

(41,384 posts)

1. And give them a toy to get addicted to so they won't do their homework.

Reply to Starry Messenger (Original post)

Fri Oct 12, 2012, 07:56 AM

Oct 2012

Sounds like the school should get an F for epic fail.

Waltons_Mtn

(345 posts)

2. The happy meal approach!

Reply to Starry Messenger (Original post)

Fri Oct 12, 2012, 07:57 AM

Oct 2012

exboyfil

(18,023 posts)

3. Public schools in some areas

Reply to Starry Messenger (Original post)

Fri Oct 12, 2012, 08:39 AM

Oct 2012

have also done this (maybe not Nintendos but I remember bikes).

I think the whole approach is disgusting myself.

LWolf

(46,179 posts)

4. My state has

Reply to Starry Messenger (Original post)

Fri Oct 12, 2012, 10:18 AM

Oct 2012

a new (last January) "open enrollment" law. In response, our district encouraged schools to "market" themselves to make sure enrollment didn't drop; we paid (not much...a few hundred dollars) someone to make a video promoting our school. Other districts are also finding ways to get into the marketing game.

Even non-charter schools are now supposed to "compete" for students.

I don't see this as a healthy development, to say the least.

HiPointDem

(20,729 posts)

5. charter schools have been doing stuff like this in nyc too.

Reply to Starry Messenger (Original post)

Fri Oct 12, 2012, 01:04 PM

Oct 2012

proud2BlibKansan

(96,793 posts)

6. All the charters here do this.

Reply to Starry Messenger (Original post)

Fri Oct 12, 2012, 05:56 PM

Oct 2012

Some pay both the new kid and whoever referred him. Anywhere from $200 to $500. And Nintendos, gift cards, lots of other bling.

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