Good idea?

I feel better knowing that schools in other parts of the world have trouble getting the kids to attend school. Over the years we've tried all sorts of unsuccessful methods. Now, here's an article in the New York Times, telling how some schools have improved attendance.

Just plain bribery. It may seem silly, but works. I think most parents would tell you that kids do want rewards, even for the simplest things, even for the things they should be doing from their hearts or their own benefit.

As an EFL, English as a foreign language teacher, my classes suffer very seriously from absenteeism. It's making it harder and harder to move the class along, when I have too many kids absent. And English is not the type of subject that one can cram easily.

Now, what can we give them, since we can't afford a car?