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I thought it was funny how he thinks kids who get free lunches should have to work while kids who "pay" for their lunches shouldn't. As if the kids are the ones who are paying or not paying.

I didn't have much money growing up (not even a car until college) but I remember the kids in high school with Escalades and Hummers (I shit you not) walking around as if somehow the wealth was representative of something they did. This reminds me of that.

I'm not yet sure if I'm for or against what he's saying, but growing up around all of those rich kids and seeing their cars and multimillion dollar homes instilled some insane work ethic in me. I knew what I wanted. Later I learned that I didn't really want it to have nice stuff (not to say I don't enjoy myself on occasion), but I wanted to have financial security and freedom that came with it. I didn't want my family to have to worry about money because it's an awful feeling. It's OK while you're young, but money = opportunity for kids. I want to send them to ballet, music lessons, space camp, travel, etc.

The only fair way to do it would be to issue "school dollars" that can be earned only by being a productive contributing member of the school body (good grades, helping peers, extracurricular activities like band, sports, art, theater, etc).

Kids then get to use those earned dollars to pay for things they need. This may actually help lessen the issues with school that pg outlined in his essay in Hackers and Painters, since it makes school function less like a prison and more like a functioning society. It rewards productivity and not popularity.

My only concern is the impact of extrinsic rewards on those activities students are intrinsically motivated to pursue. On the other hand, this might reinforce the idea that you should early on figure out that you'll be most happy in life if you can earn a living doing the activities you love most.

Oh boy this is a political landmine. Talk about reminding folks early in their life about how different there background is.... Work study certainly works for college. Working does help build character, but at what age is it correct to rub people's nose in class difference?

Here is a related article on impoverished kids struggling to fit into private schools, despite the scholarships.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/21/nyregion/for-minority-stud...

I worked in the lunch line in high school in exchange for my meals. It wasn't a humiliating experience that I remember. I could see how it would be for young children though.