Companies could use pay to encourage students’ high GPA

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, February 23, 2022

Two recent related articles in by Dr. Paul Schoenfeld of the Everett Clinic (“It’s normal for kids to struggle with their homework,” The Herald, Feb. 13) and guest commentary by state Sen. Marko Liias (“Team improving on-time grad rates for 9th graders,” The Herald, Feb. 13) caught my eye, given my experience in high school. Schoenfeld mentions homework as boring to many students, and Liias defines the ninth grade as a critical time for many students’ path to success or failure. Educational incentives for the high paying adult jobs are often absent in a teen; adulthood is too far away.

I own a small tool development and manufacturing company. I hire STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) students to work part time during school and full time during the summer. My prerequisites require a 3.0 GPA for base pay with additional increments above 3.0. If our local businesses structure their payroll to account for teen educational accomplishments, would it not induce a positive incentive while proclaiming our value in education? Any other businesses on board?

Roger Gable

Everett