The motivation to learn comes from the intrinsic pleasure of learning. Learning for the purpose of learning is a reward in it's own right. Kids who need to be bribed to learn will give up as soon as there is no extrinsic motivation to do so. The love of learning is what drives most kids in elementary school until the school system drums it out of them. Regardless of the assertions of those quoted in the article, most kids at the elementary level are not motivated to achieve by prospect of winning awards. In any case what awards at the elementary level (be they academic or athletic) primarily reward, is winning the genetic lottery.