Youth Opinion : Campus Rewards: ‘Extra Incentive’ or ‘Buying Students’?

When it comes to crime on campus, high school students often know more than administrators. But peer pressure or fear of retaliation makes reporting a fellow student difficult. Rewards are increasing being offered as an incentive: A Reseda High School program offering $25 for reliable tips is nearly a decade old. Antelope Valley Union High School started one in November and the Los Angeles Unified and three school districts in Ventura County are mulling similar plans. But are gifts of cash or merchandise the right way to get students to do the right thing? JAMES BLAIR asked Southern California teen-agers.

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JAYME RABBECK

17, senior, Reseda High School

The reward program is great because it gives kids an extra incentive to actually say something. Not only do they get satisfaction knowing they helped the school, but they get the reward that shows the school really cares. I don’t think there’d be as many anonymous tips if they didn’t have it.

I consider our campus one of the cleanest in the Valley. We don’t have very much graffiti. I think the program has a lot to do with it. If the kid who plans on graffiting the school knows that someone can see him, and actually get something out of it, that will make him think twice.

People are realizing that helping someone is better than just keeping your friendship. If a person’s not going to be your friend after you’ve tried to help them, then they’re really not a true friend at all.

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RENE CASTRO

18, senior, Reseda High

I think it’s worked. You wish people would would turn them in just for the pure sense of doing something good. But I think for some who are on the edge, who don’t really like to tell, it might encourage them. If you run the risk of violence at school, I think you should do as much as possible to stop it.

The program’s been around for a few years and the campus is pretty safe overall. You know that the faculty is there if you need any help.

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LILLIAN LOPEZ

18, senior, John Marshall High School, Los Angeles

No one wants to be known as a tattletale because we were taught as kids that you’re not supposed to be snitching on other people. We have the anonymous tip line, but I don’t believe we get a reward if we call in. It does give students another option if they want to stop the tagging and the vandalism that goes on. Some students would think about calling in. But they wouldn’t actually do it because most of them have friends that do tagging and scratching.

I understand why they’re trying to motivate students into trying to stop this mess that’s going on. But it seems like they’re actually trying to buy the students. *

WILLIAM GONZALEZ

19, recent graduate, Reseda High

This school is clean. Most schools are not because they don’t have this policy. I would tell (students at other schools) that even though the policy is not in their school, try to help. If they see somebody writing on the walls, just tell the teacher or somebody. Some guys get mad at you if you turn them in. But I want the school to be clean. They will get mad at me, but it doesn’t matter. I’ll do it anyway.

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ANDREA SAMUOON

17, junior, Santa Monica High School

I don’t believe in giving people cash for telling on other people. Obviously, if there’s a problem the school needs to know about it. But I don’t think that bribing people is a very good way to do it.

Peer pressure is really horrible, and it’s sad when it occurs. But I also think that if there’s a real problem, something that people feel compelled to talk about, they will talk about it without any reward. I think when someone’s doing harm to someone else or themselves it probably should be brought to the attention of someone who can do something about it. But I think a lot of students misjudge situations and are quick to come to a conclusion about what’s taking place and they really don’t know.

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SHANE WOODRUFF

18, senior, Tustin High School

My father always told me, “The worst thing to do about a problem is nothing.” I think rewards are a good thing because if you don’t have a program where a person can correct something, then it’s going to stay wrong.

In school, there’s a lot of peer pressure. It’s hard sometimes to come out and say “I want to help you” stop graffiti or some illegal act like drugs. People sometimes are scared to act. The only thing that can break peer pressure is one person’s initiative. By having one of these programs, you’re allowing a person an out--he can stick to what he believes in and do what’s right.

There’s nothing wrong with rewards. The reward, in its most ideal state, would be recognition, not a bribe.