While crisp cash may seem like a fair trade for a report card full of A's, some school principals don't like the idea.

According to a recent poll administered by the Principals' Partnership Program -- a collaboration created by the Union Pacific Foundation -- when 450 public school principals from 21 states were asked the question "Do you think students should be paid for earning good grades or higher test scores?" more than 82 percent said no. Most principals surveyed said they felt students should be naturally motivated to get A's and B's

In Utah County, school principals and educators have mixed reactions.

Ken Higgins, the principal of Ridgeline Elementary School in Highland, said reality trumps idealism when it comes to an intrinsic love of learning. Students should get good grades because they want to, but in real life that's not the case.

"We all wish that, but we know the reality," Higgins said.

He said he has no problem with parents bribing their students with money if it works for their student.

Don Dowdle, principal of Farrer Elementary School in Provo, said it's always good to teach kids to do well in the school for the sake of learning, but incentives help.

According to the Union Pacific poll, while many principals didn't like the idea of money for grades, they acknowledged the importance of incentives in student performance.

"My personal opinion is that they should learn to love [learning], but sometimes we have to help [them] to get to that point," said Barbara Smith, a professor in the department of counseling psychology and special education at Brigham Young University.

At Farrer Elementary, students participate in a reading program where books read translate to small prizes like a candy roll or a sheets of stickers. While reading for the sake of learning is what principals and teachers would like to see, Dowdle said the rewards help.

"That makes a difference motivating kids," Dowdle said.

• Brittani Lusk can be reached at 344-2549 or at blusk@heraldextra.com.