# School selling test points rampant stupidity abounds **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 11, 2009, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-selling-test-points-rampant-stupidity-abounds/517182 "2009-11-11T14:41:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-selling-test-points-rampant-stupidity-abounds/517182/1 "2009-11-11T14:41:33Z")
How do you earn money for the school budget? [Sell test points.](http://www.newsobserver.com/news/education/story/185460.html) A group of parents came up with idea. The school endorsed the idea. The principle doesn’t see the problem with the idea. This makes me think that whole school system needs intense government scrutiny and a new principle. ---
**Author:** ![otternell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecc23a/32.png) [@otternell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/otternell)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-selling-test-points-rampant-stupidity-abounds/517182/2 "2009-11-11T14:45:28Z")
that is hideous - that principal should be sacked and the parents should be smacked. ---
**Author:** ![Fetchund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b2d939/32.png) [@Fetchund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fetchund)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-selling-test-points-rampant-stupidity-abounds/517182/3 "2009-11-11T15:00:55Z")
Holy… ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-selling-test-points-rampant-stupidity-abounds/517182/4 "2009-11-11T15:10:47Z")
I am aghast. I’m also amused that the next thread in my forum list is “Absurd things you’ve seen lately.” If a student says, “Hey teacher. I’ll give you $20 to turn my F into a D,” that’s worthy of expulsion. But when the administration offers it, it’s just peachy keen. I find the concept utterly reprehensible. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-selling-test-points-rampant-stupidity-abounds/517182/5 "2009-11-11T15:11:10Z")
They need a new principal. One with some principles this time, please. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-selling-test-points-rampant-stupidity-abounds/517182/6 "2009-11-11T15:15:49Z")
Maybe the SDMB could take this idea and run with it. You have to pay a dollar every time you wanna use a forbidden word on/against another poster, with maybe a 20 word maximum per month per user. This place would be rolling in dough in no time. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-selling-test-points-rampant-stupidity-abounds/517182/7 "2009-11-11T15:25:33Z")
> [@Anne\_Neville](#): > > They need a new principal. One with some principles this time, please. Mr. Belding’s looking better and better every day. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-selling-test-points-rampant-stupidity-abounds/517182/8 "2009-11-11T15:32:23Z")
> [@](#): > > An ethicist at Clemson University hopes Rosewood reconsiders its fundraising strategy. Interesting quote - I would hope that universities start notifying that school district that anyone from that middle school applying to their institutions would in the future be flagged as possibly engaging in academic misconduct. The prospect of students not being accepted to their colleges of choice would at least get the parents up in arms against this. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-selling-test-points-rampant-stupidity-abounds/517182/9 "2009-11-11T15:34:45Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > Interesting quote - I would hope that universities start notifying that school district that anyone from that middle school applying to their institutions would in the future be flagged as possibly engaging in academic misconduct. The prospect of students not being accepted to their colleges of choice would at least get the parents up in arms against this. Do colleges actually look at middle school academic records? I thought that they don’t. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-selling-test-points-rampant-stupidity-abounds/517182/10 "2009-11-11T15:38:03Z")
Great. Extortion at the middle school level. I have emailed the guidance counselor at the school asking her about this policy. I would email the principal, but her email does not seem to be available. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-selling-test-points-rampant-stupidity-abounds/517182/11 "2009-11-11T15:39:12Z")
An \*\*ethicist **at Clemson University** hopes \*\*Rosewood **reconsiders** its fundraising strategy. Now there is a professional who knows how to set firm boundaries. Hope they don’t have any kids of their own. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-selling-test-points-rampant-stupidity-abounds/517182/12 "2009-11-11T15:52:01Z")
> [@Anne\_Neville](#): > > Do colleges actually look at middle school academic records? I thought that they don’t. No idea - if they don’t, they could simply threaten to extend their disapproval to anyone coming out of that school district. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-selling-test-points-rampant-stupidity-abounds/517182/13 "2009-11-11T16:28:21Z")
Wow. I can just imagine the school’s _next_ fundraiser: teachers pony up $40.00 to have sex with any consenting student who happens to be over the “age of consent”. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Mindfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindfield/32/19759_2.png) [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-selling-test-points-rampant-stupidity-abounds/517182/14 "2009-11-11T16:53:34Z")
Whether or not middle school records would effect college prospects, those who would benefit from this absurd concept the most are those who probably wouldn’t otherwise get good enough grades to qualify for college anyway. This buying of grades idiocy is only going to reinforce A) that they can just buy their way out of a problem, B) that grades don’t matter, because C) education is unimportant. I really don’t understand how there can be so many levels of stupid here. Parents – who ostensibly should be concerned about their children’s future(s) – coming up with the idea is stupid. The school, and the principal – who should be concerned _solely_ with academic success and preparing their students for higher education and the real world – endorsing this idea and _seeing no problem with it_ is weapons-grade stupid. Fail the whole lot of 'em. Parents too. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-selling-test-points-rampant-stupidity-abounds/517182/15 "2009-11-11T18:27:06Z")
> [@Mindfield](#): > > Whether or not middle school records would effect college prospects, those who would benefit from this absurd concept the most are those who probably wouldn’t otherwise get good enough grades to qualify for college anyway. This buying of grades idiocy is only going to reinforce A) that they can just buy their way out of a problem, B) that grades don’t matter, because C) education is unimportant. > > I really don’t understand how there can be so many levels of stupid here. Parents – who ostensibly should be concerned about their children’s future(s) – coming up with the idea is stupid. The school, and the principal – who should be concerned _solely_ with academic success and preparing their students for higher education and the real world – endorsing this idea and _seeing no problem with it_ is weapons-grade stupid. > > Fail the whole lot of 'em. Parents too. Now, see, _this_ could be the beginning of a _great_ fundraiser! _Pretend_ your school offers this ‘feature’ (it’s sure as hell not a ‘bug’! 😉 ), then when Timmy’s folks come in with the $$ to buy their son’s grade from a D to a B, the principal gladly takes the money, hands them a receipt, and says “Congratulations! You have just proved that you are all morons! Timmy’s grade now _drops_ from a D to an F! Thank you for your contribution, and have a good day!” Hey, it’s not that different from what happened in _Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory_ with the make-believe villain trying to bribe kids into giving him their Everlasting Gobstoppers! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-selling-test-points-rampant-stupidity-abounds/517182/16 "2009-11-11T21:12:43Z")
Maybe they should offer each teacher/administrator a chance to pay $5,000 to be overlooked during the investigation. ---
**Author:** ![Mindfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindfield/32/19759_2.png) [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-selling-test-points-rampant-stupidity-abounds/517182/17 "2009-11-11T21:18:38Z")
> [@norinew](#): > > Now, see, _this_ could be the beginning of a _great_ fundraiser! _Pretend_ your school offers this ‘feature’ (it’s sure as hell not a ‘bug’! 😉 ), then when Timmy’s folks come in with the $$ to buy their son’s grade from a D to a B, the principal gladly takes the money, hands them a receipt, and says “Congratulations! You have just proved that you are all morons! Timmy’s grade now _drops_ from a D to an F! Thank you for your contribution, and have a good day!” > > Hey, it’s not that different from what happened in _Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory_ with the make-believe villain trying to bribe kids into giving him their Everlasting Gobstoppers! 😛 In that case, the principal should say, “You get _nothing!_ You _lose!_ Good day, sir!” In fact, I say that should _be_ the test they administer. The child is to go home and tell his or her parent(s) that they can pay to improve his or her grades. If the parents do so, the child gets an F. They should also bring back the dunce cap. And make the _parents_ wear them. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-selling-test-points-rampant-stupidity-abounds/517182/18 "2009-11-11T21:25:58Z")
Please, please let this be one of those “moral outrage” hoaxes. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-selling-test-points-rampant-stupidity-abounds/517182/19 "2009-11-11T21:27:58Z")
For one thing, the school should lose its accreditation. And that in turn could affect subsequent school admissions. E.g., the whole district loses accreditation and then high school grads can’t get into a real college. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-selling-test-points-rampant-stupidity-abounds/517182/20 "2009-11-11T21:37:34Z")
> [@Malleus](#): > > Please, please let this be one of those “moral outrage” hoaxes. Looks like it is, now at least. The linked article in the OP now reads “District nixes cash-for-grades fundraiser”: > [@](#): > > Wayne County school administrators stopped the fundraiser, issuing a statement this morning. > > “Yesterday afternoon, the district administration met with [Rosewood Middle School principal] Mrs. Shepherd and directed the the following actions be taken: (1) the fundraiser will be immediately stopped; (2) no extra grade credit will be issued that may have resulted from donations; and (3) beginning Novermber 12, all donations will be returned.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-selling-test-points-rampant-stupidity-abounds/517182.md?page=2)