It happens only in America

Sample this:

http://www.ibnlive.com/news/12yearold-wins-car-for-perfect-school-attendance/67749-13.html

"A Chicago Public School (CPS) student won a 2008 Dodge Caliber for three straight months of perfect attendance and some luck. The car was an incentive that CPS officials were offering to children as a reward for attending school daily."

I fail to understand the rationale behind it. How can you give something as an incentive which one is not legaly permitted to use? Is it okay for 12 year old kids to drive in US? And then it is being given by school officials itself. Its one thing parents pampering the kid but the government agencies doing so. Aren't there any better incentives to be given to school kids, heck give them a Playstation 3 or a Wii if you can't think of better options, why give something which is not legal. Probably there in lies the tale of consumerist america, catch them young.