If teachers want to get you read better…they’ve got to bribe you.

According to Education Week, if schools give you rewards like cash, MP3 players, or other gifts reading skills go up.

A research project from Stanford University found that while students’ reading gets better, gifts won’t improve your math score. So you can’t score extra gifts there.

Now a growing number of school districts around the nation are experimenting with rewards in hopes of improving students learning and behavior. The analysis suggests that incentive programs may be a cost-effective way to help raise achievement.

And the gifts are really working. Students have gained an average of 4 percentile points on standardized state reading tests for each year they participate in an awards program.

The study was based on a survey of 250 charter schools. 186 schools used a rewards program and most schools who gave gifts found an improvement—not just in academics but also in student behavior.  Students spoke more respectfully and accepted direction and instruction better.

Some of the gifts even include a college-fund contribution.

But this is the thing, do gifts really make you a better student and a better person…or are you just behaving nicely to get what you want. Does this send students the wrong message?  Does this let students run the show? And what kinds of messages about human decency are we sending?

And one more thing. Can someone say Pavlov Dog?

Vocational colleges, career schools or trade schools claim thet are all about getting you the skills you need to get the job done.

But like community colleges, vocational schools have a bad reputation.  In the past, vocational education focused on trades like automobile mechanic or welder and used to only be associated with low classes.

And these schools are considered institutions devoted to training—not education.

But now, as the working world gets more and more specialized and demand higher levels of skills, vocational colleges are taking off in many areas—like retail, tourism, information technology, funeral services and cosmetics, in traditional crafts and cottage industries.

And they are becoming a realistic post-secondary option for many students.

More and more vocational programs are popping up in community colleges—and some states have their own institutes of technology. Even online schools are jumping onboard the growing trend and offering career courses and programs.

Vocational schools could be public schools—which are operated by a government or school district –which means that there is no tuition charge. But most are private schools (either non profit or proprietary schools).

The Association for Career and Technical Education is the largest American national education association dedicated to the advancement of education that prepares youth and adults for successful careers.

So, schools and students are realizing that a four-year college is not necessarily right for everyone. But that doesn’t mean you have to give up on doing what you really want to do. There are definite options out there and vocational colleges are one of them.

It’s all about figuring out what you want to do and finding the best way to do it. Maybe instead of seeing vocational colleges the place you go when you are not good enough to get into college, we can see them as places that build skills and provide job opportunities. These opportunities just might be right for you.

Not sure if you are ready for a full commitment?

That’s OK. Community colleges let you test drive the wheels without having to buy the whole car.

A community college aka a junior college, a county college, technical college or a city college is a two year college where you can get certificates, diplomas and associate’s degrees. So it’s a higher institution where you can get an academic, vocational or professional education.

But community colleges have gotten a bad ‘rep.’ They are seen as institutions with low academic standards and have even been called “high schools with ashtrays” in the past.

But is this reputation totally deserved?

According to federal statistics, 42% of public community college freshmen take remedial courses.

But lots of students who don’t have high GPAs and college admissions test scores can improve their grades in junior college to help them get into a four year college or university. And you can even transfer your credits from junior college to a four year college.

Also, more and more students are attending community colleges to save significant sums of money in the first two years of their four year education.

Certain junior colleges also have incredible athletic programs, particularly in basketball and football. There is even a collegiate athletic association for junior colleges called the NJCAA. A talented player who doesn’t meet the academic or athletic standards of a major college program may be able to play for two years in junior college and get the break they need to transfer to the major college.

There are also military junior colleges that let cadets become commissioned officers in the armed forces reserve in two years, instead of four.

So do community colleges deserve their bad name? We don’t think so. There might be something there that make it right for you.