School sells test scores to students

A strapped-for-cash middle school in North Carolina is selling test points to students for $20.

• [tenner]

  Tons of studies have already shown that one of the most accurate predictors of student achievement is socioeconomic status.

  So one could say this is already happening, just in a less obvious way.

• [turgidnoodler]

  thankfully, no it isn’t:
  http://www.newsobserver.com/news/education/story/185460.html

• [Alan]

  Being a parent of school age kids, and being a former PTA president, I am appalled. I would’ve fought this. You don’t teach kids that they can buy grades, merit or respect. These are things that are earned. It also teaches that only those with money can get ahead, and hey, if you can’t afford $20 to raise your test grade, too bad so sad.

  Educators my ass.

  • [Lobster]

    That’s an important lesson to learn, which is why I don’t believe this is what they’re actually doing. All federally funded schools are prohibited by law from teaching children important lessons.

• [Snig]

  Logical extension of “free market good” “taxes bad” philosophy.

  • [Anonymous]

    How do you figure that?

• [Marsha Keeffer]

  This is idiotic – can’t believe a principal supported it and glad it’s not being done.

• [Hools Verne]

  I was going to say at least their being honest and upfront about it, but tenner and Lobster beat me to the punch.

• [Anonymous]

  Instead they should accept the money for grade points, but keep it quiet, not as an official policy, but as a behind the scenes bribe. That would teach students how the real world works.

• [vettekaas]

  Wow… maybe my students who say “I’ll do ANYTHING to get a better grade” were brought up in a school like this.

• [Anonymous]

  When I saw this, I thought, “Will it be in my hometown?” And yes. Yes it was. Glad it got smacked down.

  • [Axx]

    You can’t imagine my relief when I saw it *wasn’t* my hometown.