Chocolate 'makes pupils better'

[paulham]

[A Norfolk headteacher has said there have been no exclusions from his school since he started rewarding pupils with chocolate for good behaviour.

Dr Andrew Sheppard began the scheme in 2005, since when exclusion days at Redcastle Furze Primary in Thetford have dropped from 65 a year to zero.

Critics said he was contributing to childhood obesity and dental problems.

But Dr Sheppard said: "It has improved behaviour, they are polite and... they have a sense of responsibility."

In September 2005, Dr Sheppard pledged to give all 240 pupils a bar of chocolate if they made it to the half time break without any exclusions.

The scheme proved so successful it was extended term by term. Since then discos, picnics and Easter eggs have been handed out.

Internet poll

"We had people saying how terrible it was that we were bribing children and it was unsustainable," he said.

"We had complaints saying we were contributing to childhood obesity and rotting teeth.

"But the children really liked it and it really works."

Dr Sheppard said he hoped other schools would follow his lead.

Earlier this year in an internet poll of 2,581 parents, 27% said teachers were giving their children sweets and three-quarters thought it was a bad idea.

At the time the School Food Trust said it would be better to use healthy food as a reward.]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/norfolk/7513320.stm

What are your views on this one?
It does smack of bribery really.

Virtue is its own reward.

[oldspice]

When i entered High School aged 11, we had a wonderful form teacher called Mrs Tilley. First years spent Friday afternoons with their form teacher and at about 3pm she was ask us to settle down so we were comfortable ('heads on arms on desks boys and girls') and she would read to us. If we were good, we got a Penguin biscuit!  She was the most wonderful person and read us brilliant books - starting with 101Dalmations!  Everyone behaved for Mrs Tilley. It would have been cruel not to.

I use loads of praise and rewards with the special needs class I teach (16+ year olds who have been excluded from education for long periods or who have had difficult times at school). Most of them are bright but don't have a clue how to use their brains. I think it is important to challenge them intellectually and empower them. Yes, sometimes I use chocolate, or homemade cakes or 'film afternoons' but mostly I reward them but making the lessons as interesting as I can so they enjoy learning.

[goldencup]

Bribery works wonders - I'm all for it!

[smurfboy]

[
Virtue is its own reward.

Nice in theory - practice is clearly very different.

[paulham]

Practice makes perfect.

[bounty hunter]

Bribery works wonders - I'm all for it!

I can feel a story coming on...