I paid my son to run for student council

[Anonymous]

I knew he was popular enough to win. He refused . . . until I made him an offer too rich to pass up. He won and he enjoys the leadership role.

I disclosed this to a few parents last night at a cocktail party and they claimed it sends the wrong message.

What's the harm?

[Anonymous]

Lol. This is basically how politics works.

[Anonymous]

There's no real harm. Males in particular are more motivated by money. The offense caused is more in line to the position obtained. Student council is best served by those who feel the drive to give (not benefit $) and have the interests of their constituents foremost in mind when leading. I'm sure you can pay a popular person to be president, but he may not have your interests at heart when he eliminates free public schooling, for example.

[Anonymous]

I see you are raising an aspiring politician with great values. He will fit rIght in with the rest of politicians on Capitol hill. Don't be mad when follows this same line of thinking as an adult and fails miserably laterm on. Remember you raised him. Good job mom!

[Anonymous]

Interesting. How much did you offer him?

[Anonymous]

This all depends on how much money you paid him. Come on, it's an anonymous board - what was the amount?

[Anonymous]

Popular enough to win?

Are we being punked this morning? Between the popular girls at gds in goose down, and now this?

My daughter isn't even allowed to speak of 'popularity' in my house.

[Anonymous]

Way to teach him the value of intrinsic motivation. Good luck when he is living in your basement as an adult.

[Anonymous]

Not inherently bad. I think it is fine to pay him to try it, but he should be intrinsically motivated to keep doing it.

[Anonymous]

Pros:
- Leadership role/experience
- Better resume/college app
- Teachers take him a little more seriously
- Got him out of his comfort zone
- Gets to be around sharp peers (council members)

Cons
- ?

[Anonymous]

What was the offer? Did he counter at all?

[Anonymous]

Why did you want him to run? At every high school that I have seen, the student council is pretty much useless, anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pros:
- Leadership role/experience
- Better resume/college app
- Teachers take him a little more seriously
- Got him out of his comfort zone
- Gets to be around sharp peers (council members)

Cons
- ?

Cons: my mommy will pay me to motivate me, so why should I really try for anything if I know she'll pay me to do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why did you want him to run? At every high school that I have seen, the student council is pretty much useless, anyway.

We don't rank but I know for a fact the kids on student council are the most impressive in his class. I wanted him to have some leadership, step out of his comfort zone, and be around those kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Way to teach him the value of intrinsic motivation. Good luck when he is living in your basement as an adult.

I don't know. I pay my kids to get good grades. A's are worth more than B's. The deal is he pays me if he was to ever get a D or F. He's never had to pay. Right now, school is his job. I get paid for my work. His motivation is money. If OPs son's motivation is money, she used it to her son's benefit. NBD.