quote:Officials at the state Department of Public Instruction say exchanging grades for money teaches children the wrong lessons
Duh!!
Posted by Samprimary (Member # 8561) on :
ha.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
quote:Principal Susie Shepherd says it's not enough of an impact to change a student's overall grades.
Probably true in most cases, but totally missing the point.
And what about those cases where it actually is enough to change a grade on the cusp?
YEESH!
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
Didn't even occur to this school that if an individual teacher had done this, they would be fired summarily for accepting bribes?
Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :
That doesn't even make sense. Who would pay twenty bucks for a higher score unless it improved their grade?
Posted by King of Men (Member # 6684) on :
Well, perhaps we can hope that the principal will be summarily fired?
Now, if I wanted to raise funds from the students, and didn't care about the ethics or legality, I would instead start a sex-education class. It costs money to take it, but "hands-on experience or your money back".
Posted by scifibum (Member # 7625) on :
It's amazing how things that seem like they couldn't happen do in fact happen.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
quote:Originally posted by The Rabbit: Didn't even occur to this school that if an individual teacher had done this, they would be fired summarily for accepting bribes?
That was pointed out in the comments by a teacher.
quote:Originally posted by Jon Boy: That doesn't even make sense. Who would pay ten bucks for a higher score unless it improved your grade?
It improves the grade on a single exam; the principal's claim is that a single exam is not statistically significant to the student's overall grade. However, expecting many middle school students (especially if they're getting C's!) to understand that is problematic.
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
quote:Originally posted by King of Men: Well, perhaps we can hope that the principal will be summarily fired?
Now, if I wanted to raise funds from the students, and didn't care about the ethics or legality, I would instead start a sex-education class. It costs money to take it, but "hands-on experience or your money back".
These are middle school students (11-13). I think we'd make more money selling them beer and pot.
Posted by scifibum (Member # 7625) on :
How's this one: $20 buys you an hour to play games on the computer. I'd probably be OK with it.
I'd be uncomfortable with allowing the kid to skip a test, though.
Posted by Alcon (Member # 6645) on :
quote:Originally posted by King of Men: Well, perhaps we can hope that the principal will be summarily fired?
Now, if I wanted to raise funds from the students, and didn't care about the ethics or legality, I would instead start a sex-education class. It costs money to take it, but "hands-on experience or your money back".
That would only work for high school - maybe middle school - but still, surefire way to raise money. That is until the parents storm the school with pitchforks Posted by MrSquicky (Member # 1802) on :
I don't know if it teaches the wrong point. If the point of school is to prepare kids for the real world, I think teaching that money can open up things you don't otherwise deserve is more honest than the opposite.
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
quote:Originally posted by MrSquicky: I don't know if it teaches the wrong point. If the point of school is to prepare kids for the real world, I think teaching that money can open up things you don't otherwise deserve is more honest than the opposite.
Another "realist".
Posted by scifibum (Member # 7625) on :
quote: Originally posted by MrSquicky: I don't know if it teaches the wrong point. If the point of school is to prepare kids for the real world, I think teaching that money can open up things you don't otherwise deserve is more honest than the opposite.
I had a similar thought, but if the sole point of school is to prepare kids for the real world, then grades wouldn't be so important. The function of grading is to sort kids by certain merits.
So the point of schools that have grades is at least partially to recognize merit.
Allowing false merit to be purchased in that situation would then teach opposing things at the same time, which for me is wrong enough.
Posted by MrSquicky (Member # 1802) on :
I meant that in jest. Sorry if that wasn't clear.
It was a shot at how the world works, not a real endorsement of pay for grade schemes.
Posted by King of Men (Member # 6684) on :
quote:Originally posted by The Rabbit:
quote:Originally posted by King of Men: Well, perhaps we can hope that the principal will be summarily fired?
Now, if I wanted to raise funds from the students, and didn't care about the ethics or legality, I would instead start a sex-education class. It costs money to take it, but "hands-on experience or your money back".
These are middle school students (11-13). I think we'd make more money selling them beer and pot.
Ok, could be. Still, for the upper end of that age range, I think it would work. If nothing else, I think they'd all be eager to brag that they had taken the class, even if they weren't getting much out of the hands-on experience. Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
"Mom, can I have $100 to buy a good test grade for a school fundraiser?"
"Actually, we're starting homeschooling Monday."
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
quote:Originally posted by MrSquicky: I don't know if it teaches the wrong point. If the point of school is to prepare kids for the real world, I think teaching that money can open up things you don't otherwise deserve is more honest than the opposite.
Posted by DDDaysh (Member # 9499) on :
I can't believe a principal really thought this was a good idea!!!!
![[ROFL]](graemlins/rofl.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
Another "realist".
![[Smile]](smile.gif)