From the North Carolina News & Observer:

Selling candy didn’t raise much money last year, so a Goldsboro middle school tried selling grades.

However, the fundraiser came to an abrupt halt today after a story in the News & Observer raised concerns about the the practice of selling grades.

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 November 12, all donations will be returned.”

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.

[snip]

Rebecca Garland, the chief academic officer for the state Department of Public Instruction, said she understands that schools are struggling in the recession.

[snip]

But Garland said exchanging grades for money teaches children the wrong lessons. She also said it is bad testing practice and is unfair to students whose parents can’t pay.

“If a student in college were to approach a professor to buy a grade, we would be frowning on that,” Garland said. “It might even be a reason for dismissal. We’re teaching kids something that if they were to do it later, they could get in trouble for.”

Students should know that test grades are based on what they’ve learned, and parents need to have a true picture of how their child is performing in class, Garland said.

Garland said she has heard of schools offering test credit to students who bring supplies to school. But “I’ve never actually heard of being able to purchase grades before,” she said.

So, "We’re teaching kids something that if they were to do it later, they could get in trouble for." That’s why it’s bad? Why would they get in trouble? Why would this behavior be frowned on in college? It’s bad testing practice and unfair to those who cannot pay? Gimme a break. So it would be OK if everyone could afford it? Yeesh!

Nobody uses the word, "dishonest", or the word, "cheating", to describe this behavior as morally wrong. I guess our teachers can’t do anything morally wrong if they’re trying to support the government schools. Suborning dishonesty and cheating simply isn’t found on the teachers’ union list of actions teachers cannot commit.

Dishonesty and cheating are words that are too hard to hear these days. Like peace and freedom, we don’t talk about them anymore. Political correctness abounds and the language dies a slow death.

Update, November 13, 10:26 AM: The principal of the school has "retired".