Elementary school principal offers year-end cash to students for not fighting

PHILADELPHIA — The principal at a Philadelphia elementary school in a violent corner of the city is paying eighth-graders to not fight.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Mitchell Elementary School Principal Stephanie Andrewlevich is taking the approach to manage behavior at the school.

If all eighth-graders make it to graduation with no physical violence, each child will get $100.

The principal said the incentive is working.

So far this year, only 8 percent of the eighth-graders have been suspended. That's down from 17 percent at the same point last year, and down 21 percent from 2016.

One student said not fighting feels natural now, and it's no longer about the money. She said she'd give the money to her mom to buy school supplies.

Andrewlevich said she'll put up the $3,300 herself, unless a sponsor emerges.

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