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I admit it. I’m a NERD and proud of it! I’ve always been a NERD and I fully embrace my NERDINESS. Learning came fairly easy for me so school was never a problem for me. I certainly had classes that gave me trouble, like Calculus. But I never felt the need to cheat. I felt that if I applied myself, I would at least be able to get a “C” and have the basic knowledge of what that subject was about. And while a coupIe of “C’s” did lower my overal GPA, I am pleased at having a 3.2 GPA throughout my high school and college education. Could it have been A LOT higher? YES! Should it have been higher? YES? I guess I was born about 24 years too soon. Because in the state of North Carolina, students can BUY points that can be added to a test and raise the grade. That means a student who might have failed a test can buy enough points to raise that grade to passing. All this is being done to raise money for a cash strapped school district. This takes “buying and education” to an all new level!
The “point policy” for Rosewood Middle School in Goldsboro, NC, says that for $20.00, a student can apply 10 points to a test of that students choice. So a “B” can become an “A”, and an “F” can become a “C” or a “D.” I’m at a COMPLETE loss as to what kind of lesson we are teaching these kids. A lesson that says instead of studying, you can just buy ten points and keep them in reserve just in case you need them? That if “mommy and daddy” will “kick in” the student can put the book down and continue surfing Facebook or playing with their WII?
I would LOVE to have been a fly on the wall and heard the rationale for passing a resolution to sell grades. Was there NO ONE on that committee who felt this was a bad idea? Because from the outside looking in, this looks like one of the worse ideas supposed educators could ever come up with. Those students whose parents can afford to give “little johnny” that extra help in the buying points and changing grades will benefit from this policy. Is this a “one shot deal” or can parents continue to buy points all year long as long as they pay $20.00? Can they buy points for “each test” or is per class? Those parents who can’t afford to buy points and whose children could really use the extra points will be left out. So as usually, money talks. Even in the classroom!
I’m going to wait until the school year ends to see what impact this policy has had on both the students and the school districts bottom line. I have a gut feeling that neither situation is going to look any better. And this “ill conceived” policy will be banished forever!
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