District nixes cash-for-grades fundraiser
Posted by Darren Schwindaman on Nov 11, 2009 - 07:33 PM
Rosewood Middle School's administrators indict both the integrity of their own school and the practice of grading as a whole in one fell swoop. The principal's own ambivalence to giving away test points for money perfectly illustrates the worthlessness of grades. Even though tests and grades are the overwhelming mainstream, let's remember that this is about as good as 'the competition' gets when we're coming up with our messaging about the benefits of more democratic forms of education.A $20 donation to Rosewood Middle School would have gotten a student 20 test points - 10 extra points on two tests of the student’s choosing. That could raise a B to an A, or a failing grade to a D.
Susie Shepherd, the principal, said a parent advisory council came up with the idea, and she endorsed it. She said the council was looking for a new way to raise money.
“Last year they did chocolates, and it didn’t generate anything,” Shepherd said.
Shepherd rejected the suggestion that the school is selling grades. Extra points on two tests won’t make a difference in a student’s final grade, she said.
It’s wrong to think that “one particular grade could change the entire focus of nine weeks,” Shepherd said.
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