-Isms: Views on life in rural America

Summerland parents and teachers held mid-term conferences this week. It reminded me of days gone by ... Grandma Larson would give Laurie and me a buck for every “A” we earned on our report cards.

I appreciated the extra cash, but I really did not need the incentive. It wasn’t like Grandma was dangling dollars and I was off on a chase to earn “A”s. I’ve told you before, I’m kind of a nerd when it comes to school. I liked it and school - except for algebra - came easy.

Now I know there are people who are against paying kiddos for good grades. Bribery, of some sorts, it seems, or so I’ve been tol...