School tries to sell grades for cash -- administrators halt program
Filed under: Kids and Money
From the "You ain't gonna believe this" file comes this gem: Rosewood Middle School in Goldsboro, N.C. unveiled a plan to raise much-needed funds by selling middle schoolers better grades.A $20 "donation" would get you (or your poor kid, who really has grounds for a lawsuit if you would pony up cash for something like this) 20 test points that could be used to boost grades on the test of that student's choosing.
Principal Susie Shepherd's explanation? "Last year they did chocolates, and it didn't generate anything," she told the News Observer.
Mercifully, less deranged heads prevailed. The New York Times reports that Wayne County school administrators halted the fundraiser.
The principal said that she had approved the plan and explained that the bonus points wouldn't have made a difference on students' final grades.
Wait a second: If the bonus points wouldn't have made a difference in students' final grades, why would anyone buy them? Were students being ripped off? In any case, the principal said no points will be awarded and the donated money will be returned.
Here's the sad part: a middle school that needs money has a golden opportunity to get its students involved in the process. What better way to help students learn about business, entrepreneurship, marketing, work ethic, and teamwork than to bring the entire student body together to brainstorm ways to raise money to buy the technological equipment that the school needs so badly? Imagine the brilliant ideas that a few hundred middle school students could have come up with -- stuff far, far more creative than selling indulgences.
Instead, Rosewood Middle School missed the opportunity and opted instead for something shady and immoral -- and made itself a symbol of everything that is wrong with middle school education in America.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
11-14-2009 @ 9:06PM
danielle said...
Really? There is nothing wrong with middle schools, there is however something wrong with the media! Perhaps this reporter should have listened and learned something when they were in middle school.
Reply
11-14-2009 @ 8:13PM
dodah001 said...
This just points out the fact that there's too much in-breeding
going on in that part of the Country. It's pretty much the same in Virginia, I understand...
Reply
11-14-2009 @ 9:57PM
Lee said...
I used to live in Wayne County where this school is located. It's one of those places where "minorities" are the majority. When that happens things are bound to be f'd up. Their culture is a culture of crime, corruption, and government handouts, much like Obama is trying to make the entire country. That is just their culture, so that is what they think is normal to teach to the children in the schools. The principal, Shepherd, is one of that kind of shady Obama people too. She is the kind you might find working for Acorn.
11-14-2009 @ 11:12PM
Kim said...
You are an Idiot, you don't know anything about Goldsboro
11-14-2009 @ 8:42PM
Duh said...
This principal needs to be removed along with whatever teachers went along this ridiculous scheme! This is just unbelievable! Just what do they think they are teaching the kids in that school?
Reply
11-14-2009 @ 8:59PM
nascar said...
My grandson had to take a carved pumpkin to school to get 50 credits on his cardmarking, the teacher was having a birthday party for her daughter and wanted a lot of pumpkins. Then she was to return the pumpkins to the students, Grandpa delivered the pumpkin to the school.
I didn't think this was legal but they do it all the time at his school.
Once they had to bring in a bag of candy and it was for the teacher to take home !!
Reply
11-14-2009 @ 9:21PM
logan said...
The principal must be a repulican with that kind of capitalistic know how. No need to start a riot, it was just a joke.
Reply
11-14-2009 @ 9:33PM
Ron said...
Have the little monsters dodge cars at the next round-de-round race or one of those NASCAR thingys. Everyone would pay to see that. And if one of them got hit, so much the better, no more hillbillies.
Reply
11-20-2009 @ 12:05PM
David Tilkin said...
This is fairly normal for the south.There Education system produces SUB-HUMANS WITH IQ'S OF 70-80. WHAT A GREAT WAY OF RAINSING $ FOR EDUCATION. JUST LIKE SELLING HUMAN ORGANS. WE HAVE SERIOUS PROBLEMS IN THE US. HATRED, RASCISM AND ANTI-SEMITISM. SO ALL YOU ULTRA RIGHT WING MORONS HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS?? MOST OF YOU CAN'T READ AND CAN'T DO 3RD GRADE ARITHMATIC. MAYBE ITS TIME TO FOR US TO GO BACK TO CANADA OR ISRAEL./DAVID
Reply
11-14-2009 @ 9:57PM
phil said...
David: Please learn to use spell check as you obviously missed a few lessons in your northern grammar school.
p.s. You're an idiot.
11-14-2009 @ 10:28PM
Jenny said...
I don't think you should be talking about people's IQ levels, considering the grammar and spelling errors you've made.
11-14-2009 @ 11:44PM
Kim said...
TO: David Tilkin .... never heard of "RAINSING $" and we don't spell arithmetic like you do: "ARITHMATIC" Maybe YOU need to keep your mouth shut and invest in a computer with spell check
11-14-2009 @ 11:52PM
Mallenroh said...
Well ain't that the pot calling the kettle black.
I grew up in the south and graduated cum laude from high school, took college courses as a high schooler getting duel enrollment courses, I studied Latin from 7th grade 'til I graduated high school, I could've graduated high school as a sophomore I had enough credits and my PUBLIC high school had some of the highest test scores in the state of Virginia, I speak perfect English (albeit w/a southern accent) as well as Italian.
I have traveled and studied abroad in 6 different countries and strangely enough, for someone who is supposed to not have an IQ greater than 80, I'm getting ready to graduate from college w/a BFA and and already hold an associates in business and a minor in history and did I mention I stayed in the south for college?
Oh, and please note, perfect spelling, proper grammar, and proper punctuation, maybe you should try it before passing judgement on people from the south and while I'm at it, allow me to point out the overwhelming amount of idiots from the north (DC, Baltimore, NYC anyone?) that I've had the distinct DISpleasure of dealing w/every time I walk into a classroom!!!
11-15-2009 @ 1:41PM
Belinda said...
OMG. Learn to spell and use proper grammar before you start trashing other people's intelligence, you moron.
11-15-2009 @ 12:42AM
exoticdoc2 said...
Public schools are a failed experiment that should be shut down before wasting any more tax dollars. The entire education system should be privatized. This insane idea to teach children that money is more important than integrity and hard work is simply further proof of that. Privatizing would also be one less way for government and certain interest groups to influence children at an early age (yes, it does happen).
Reply
11-15-2009 @ 12:53AM
M&M said...
Lee, you are a narrow minded bigoted racist idiot!
Reply
11-15-2009 @ 1:25AM
Susan said...
What do you expect from the state where Governor "McShady" himself reigns - when he isn't hiking in the Appalachians that is! Teaching our children to do "dirty deals" like most politicians, except this is starting them kind of young don't you think?
Reply
11-15-2009 @ 1:35AM
Karen Anne said...
Ummm, Susan, just curious...what state are you talking about? We don't have a "HE" here in NC - we have that donkey's behind, Beverly Purdue...and I KNOW Goldsboro - they need to fire this idiot! AND blackball her! Thank heaven my family moved out of the county so their children aren't exposed to this "_itch"!
11-15-2009 @ 1:38AM
Susan said...
In response to comment # 4 made by Lee: How dare you make a comment such as that? It was the TEACHER who had this bright idea. Your remark was offensive and sickening. Sadly I have heard and read a great many offensive things of late, but this one is among the top! Many people with problems like you obviously have try to disguise themselves with a cloak of "Christianity" where it is painfully obvious none of Christ's love exists. I do feel sorry for you but I abhor your shriveled soul that makes you believe that shrouded in anonymity, you can freely make such remarks. Thankfully, I have more faith in Americans and I do believe that our "better selves" will eventually overcome all this evil nastiness that is so prevalent lately. May God have mercy on your soul - you're going to need it!
Reply
11-15-2009 @ 1:38AM
Susan said...
OOOPS!
PS: No, I am not a person of color, simply a decent, hard working common person who is sick of this wretched rhetoric and sick of people like you. I can imagine what sort YOU are and it doesn't take much imagination. People like you are obvious and we ALL know who they are and what they look like!
Reply