Am I wrong? (School related) *Updated*

[Gina]

I have a question for you guys. My son is in 7th grade, and came home yesterday telling me that for one of his classes, if each student brings in 5lbs of food for the local food bank, the teacher will drop the lowest grade.

I am all for helping charities... and DS and I do that whenever we can, however we can. But I have a very big problem with tying academics to anything else. What if there was a family in his class who relies on a food bank themselves, who couldn't afford to donate food? So their child just has to suck up their bad grade? The message I think this whole thing sends is that you can buy good grades with good deeds, and I think that both should be expected already and independent of each other.

This isn't the first time this has come up this school year... and I'm just wondering what you guys think?


-gina-

 

[MoniqueU]

No, you are not wrong.
But boy I am jealous. I have a few grades I would like my sophmore to have dropped!!!

 

[HGD24]

I'm totally in agreement with you that this is wrong and the two should be independent of each other. That's quite a bit of food and in these economic times, they should not be asking kids to do this. Whatever happend to extra credit for writing an essay about a current event? Something that can actually be tied to grades.

 

[rgf207]

I think it's a good thought but maybe not the right thing to do. 5lbs of food isn't that much. Maybe 6 cans. Probably cost less than 5 dollars.

 

[lillygator]

wow, but this is not the first I have heard of it. The schools should be teaching the children about giving and how the reward is helping someone less fortunate, not about having a grade dropped.

 

[daughtersrus]

I don't think that you're wrong at all.

We've seen this for years now. Extra credit for bringing in a box of Kleenex is not uncommon in our high school.
I understand that schools are under-funded and that teachers spend a lot of their own money (my sister and SIL are both teachers and my 2 oldest DD's are Special Ed majors) but there needs to be some way to get the supplies without bribing the students with extra credit.

 

[LuvOrlando]

-

 

[Gina]

Hey, I have a few grades this semester that *I* would love to have dropped!!! Think if I send my professors a few pounds of food, they'll help me out??

Thanks for reaffirming what I keep feeling. I guess I'll have to put in another call to the principal, see what her stance is on this... Last time this came up in a different class, she wasn't even aware of it.

 

[Gina]

I don't know. It looks like a misguided attempt to get some help for the local food pantry. Still, a 5 lb bag of flour isn't too much. I would probably send something in then remind the teacher that her class might have families who themselves are struggling. Some people are just oblivious to the fact this current crisis is hurting people of all socio-economic strata.

That's a good idea, and I would send the food anyway, but I'm really concerned that this sort of thing is teaching the kids the wrong thing. That's what bothers me. And this is a way bad age to be learning "Hey, I can buy good grades. Cool."

 

[budbeerlady]

That is very wrong! It isnt helping the students in the long run.

 

[Scurvy]

It would bother me. It's too much like buying extra credit. I like that schools are trying to make the kids more aware of those less fortunate, but this doesn't seem like the best way to do it. In effect, it penalizes those who can't afford to donate the food.

I would hope that there are other opportunites for the kids in that class to have their lowest grade dropped that don't require money. If there are, then I have less of a problem with it. If there are not then I think I would be having a talk with the teacher to point out that all of her students might not be able to afford to participate.

 

[Erin1700]

I don't like it either!

 

[MistressOfAllEvil]

I really don't like this and I can appreciate the unfairness of it all. Although I still may be cheezed off by a certain government teacher, from HS 12 years ago, who was giving extra credit based on if you donate blood. I had a major surgery less than six months earlier and was not allowed to donate. He offered me the extra credit anyhow, but I didn't want it. Grades should be based on comprehension of the material. As it stands, I think the methods of capturing this sometimes aren't all that great. So to add to the equation completely irrelevent activities that affect a grade... very inappropriate imo.

 

[mickeyboat]

I agree, it stinks. I wonder if there are other opportunities throughout the marking period to have the lowest grade dropped, and this is just one of the options.

Denae

 

[dejr_8]

I have a question for you guys. My son is in 7th grade, and came home yesterday telling me that for one of his classes, if each student brings in 5lbs of food for the local food bank, the teacher will drop the lowest grade.

I am all for helping charities... and DS and I do that whenever we can, however we can. But I have a very big problem with tying academics to anything else. What if there was a family in his class who relies on a food bank themselves, who couldn't afford to donate food? So their child just has to suck up their bad grade? The message I think this whole thing sends is that you can buy good grades with good deeds, and I think that both should be expected already and independent of each other.

This isn't the first time this has come up this school year... and I'm just wondering what you guys think?


-gina-

You are correct. But what you are seeing a melding of liberal democractic policies into the education system. School is now used for social engineering as opposed to education.
I also am strongly opposed to ANY requirement for graduation that includes community service. Why should you have provide community service to get your HS diploma? What does that have to do with the three Rs?

How about making sure that a child can make change in their head and not depend on the cash registry to do so.

 

[dejr_8]

Gina - I do have to ask. Who did you vote for yesterday - Obama or McCain. Cause if you voted for Obama this type of school policy is what you should come to expect.

 

[Stitchfans]

I also agree with you. It is not a good lesson to be teaching the students.

 

[mjkacmom]

Hey, I have a few grades this semester that *I* would love to have dropped!!! Think if I send my professors a few pounds of food, they'll help me out??

Thanks for reaffirming what I keep feeling. I guess I'll have to put in another call to the principal, see what her stance is on this... Last time this came up in a different class, she wasn't even aware of it.

While I don't agree with this teacher, I wouldn't call the principal without speaking with the teacher first - it's more effective to follow the chain of command.

 

[clarabelle]

I would call the teacher.

I don't understand why schools are in the charity business now anyway.
We are as a family give to charities that we have picked out -thank you very much. I don't need the school to be my social consciousness.

I don't think grades should be tied into something that may be beyond the students control.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Tying it to a grade is something that stinks. However in the spirit of grades, I would send in food for the pantry.

Perhaps your child can ask for others to donate to someone that does not have food to give in their class.

Frequently I would send in extra or my kids would bring in something for someone that they know does not have the resources.