Cash for Grades?
In Middle School?
I am speechless.
Raleigh News & Observer:
"The News & Observer of Raleigh reported Wednesday that Rosewood Middle School in Goldsboro has come up with a novel fundraising plan after last year's chocolate sale flopped.
The school will sell 20 test points to students in exchange for a $20-dollar donation.
Students can add 10 extra points to each of two tests of their choosing. The extra points could take a student from a "B" to an "A" on a test or from a failing grade to a passing grade.
Rosewood's principal Susie Shepherd rejected the idea that extra points on two tests could make a difference in a final grade.
Shepherd said she approved the idea when a parent advisory council presented it. "Last year they did chocolates and it didn't generate anything," Shepherd said."
Oh boy.
But, yet again, hidebound regulators dampen the flame of innovation:
"Wayne County school administrators stopped the fundraiser, issuing a statement this morning.
"Yesterday afternoon, the district administration met with [Rosewood Middle School principal] Mrs. Shepherd and directed the the following actions be taken: (1) the fundraiser will be immediately stopped; (2) no extra grade credit will be issued that may have resulted from donations; and (3) beginning Novermber 12, all donations will be returned.""
But, there is more (from original article):
"Garland [Chief Academic Officer, Department of Public Instruction] said offering students test credit in exchange for school supplies is a long standing practice at some schools."
SAY WHAT?
So, going to cash is really just cutting out the middleman. Too gauche. Clearly.
That, I infer is ok and will continue.
I despair.
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It's fairly common to get extra credit for things like bringing boxes of tissue, showing up to Back to School night, or bringing canned food donations. As you said, just cutting out the middle man.
Hmm. Many psychology classes offer grades to students for volunteering as test subjects, which has always struck me as ethically iffy. It does mean that by far the most-studied group in pyschology is the American college undergraduate...
This story made http://detentionslip.org ! Check it out for all the crazy headlines from our schools.
Wait! I thought cutting edge education theory called for bribing the kids.
Chocolate 'makes pupils better'
Now I am confused.
Arunav, read your BBC link again- it's about teachers bribing students, not the other way around.
...There's certainly a lot of talk about whether students would learn better if we actually paid their teachers, but that's hardly "cutting edge"! ;)
Er Andy that was exactly my point. The good folks in NC have ignored recent field tests of bribery in education. Their bribery vector was pointing the wrong way!
The possibilities are endless. Hand the kids some video game consoles and you can do away with expensive gyms, labs, and for that matter teachers. Budget balanced! Have we learnt nothing from the mortgage repackagers about creative and elegant solutions to financial issues?