So what if the kid gets good grades? That's his job. He's supposed to. If he gets bad grades - he's grounded until his next report card. It's a hardball philosophy, but we stick with it.

He's set up for success. He has his own room, a desk, a computer and good lighting. He has shelves full of books, paper and pencils. He gets three square meals a day. He has time and space to do his study and homework. He has free time, friends and sport activities.

We acknowledge his good work and grades with a dinner or by going out somewhere special. He'll get a little surprise like a t-shirt or a few bucks so he can by something. I don't think any of that is overly extreme. It's consistent, which is what we are teaching him - constancy.

But what about kids who seem to need extra motivation? I know of one person who would give their child about $200 for a report card with no "Cs" on it. But since the child did get Cs this quarter, there was no reward. It kind of produced a "don't matter" result.

To me, there is so much wrong with that kind of dangling carrot: it devalues the teacher and the spirit of personal growth. It certainly goes against the idea of constancy.

It's an age-old question, with answers that come from various angles. A Kiplinger's Newletter columnist says it's a slippery slope.

A blogger at Queercents.com agrees its a bad deal. Comments for and against the practice follow her post.

Listen to an NPR interview that features Mocha Moms on the topic of cash incentives schools are beginning to implement.

Assuming you checked in with everyone involved in your child's education, but your child were still performing poorly - grade-wise - in school, what motivational push would you give?