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Paying for grades (updated)

Selling candy and magazines to raise cash for schools is so five minutes ago, reports the News & Observer of Raleigh.

So a school in Goldsboro is taking the gloves off.

You raise enough money, you raise a test grade. Or two.

Twenty dollars equals 10 extra points added to each of two test grades of a student's choosing,

A parents group came up with the idea and, amazingly, the principal approved.

Update: The school district has now pulled the plug on this idea. Smart move, but it's a wonder it ever got off the ground in the first place.

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Posted by Allen Johnson on Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at 11:33 am

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Doug Johnson

November 11, 2009 - 3:48 pm EST

This would be funny if not for the fact, it appears to be true.
Must be some strange parents.
I never approved of candy and book sales!
I think my kids sold something every month.
Now it's other folks children, ringing he door bell.
Of course two places we should fund adequately is one police, two schools.
See were we just spent $140,000 to send 6 Perdue supporters to California.
The educational lottery, has been a pork barrel project come true.
Perdue just blew 150, 000 grand for a vacation to China!
Wonder if she has heard about telephones?

Allen Johnson

November 11, 2009 - 3:51 pm EST

Doug:
You may have seen the guest column last Sunday by the local parent who was sick and tired of school kids selling things all the time.
Wonder what she thinks of this.

jones199

November 11, 2009 - 3:52 pm EST

What was the principal thinking? Where is the principal's supervisor? Where is the superintendent? Where is the school board of education? Where is the NC Department of Public Instruction? Follow this story...surely someone with a brain will question this plan. Grades are earned by students and should not be available for purchase.

brian444

November 11, 2009 - 11:56 pm EST

Crazy story. I have a difficult time imagining how any significant number of people could agree on something like this. And yet it happened.

Fortunately, our kids have never really been asked to sell stuff, although we're constantly hit up for "donations" of money, hand sanitizer, sharpies, etc. (ask any parent about the list). In the end, it's less onerous to just write a check or--if you have the labor available--to drop $30 at a fall festival, silent auction, chili cookoff, or other fundraiser.

left-wing conspiracy theorist

November 12, 2009 - 7:04 am EST

This is an outrage, I tell you! I have it on good authority that Papa Bush had to pay WAY more than $20 for each of W's C's. I'll bet those kids down in Goldsboro are commies.