Selling items for grades

[hilld21]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Michigan. Well I am a michigan high school student, and I am in a yearbook class at my school. The teacher assigned us to sell discount cards in the community. She said that if we didn't sell them we would fail the project. Is it legal to give kids a grade on selling products? Especially in this hurting economy?

 

[mistoffolees]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Michigan. Well I am a michigan high school student, and I am in a yearbook class at my school. The teacher assigned us to sell discount cards in the community. She said that if we didn't sell them we would fail the project. Is it legal to give kids a grade on selling products? Especially in this hurting economy?

Probably. It's certainly legal to require them to TRY.

 

[!CuriousGeorge!]

Is this a public or private school.

 

[stealth2]

When did yearbook become a class?!?!?!

 

[sandyclaus]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Michigan. Well I am a michigan high school student, and I am in a yearbook class at my school. The teacher assigned us to sell discount cards in the community. She said that if we didn't sell them we would fail the project. Is it legal to give kids a grade on selling products? Especially in this hurting economy?

I'm sure that you must have misunderstood.

School districts are struggling these days, and these fundraisers are essential to bring in the extra cash needed to support certain programs and events at the schools.

All through my school experience growing up, there were tons of fundraisers that I, as a student, participated in. Everything from selling chocolate bars, to gift items, to wrapping paper, to coupon books. It was never a REQUIREMENT, but it was strongly encouraged for students to participate and share in the fundraising efforts. One way that always seemed to work for us was making it a contest of sorts - whomever sold the most of whatever product we were peddling would get some super special prize. Those students who didn't participate or whose parents didn't feel it was right for them to do so were able to get a waiver signed that gave them permission NOT to participate.

There were specific targeted fundraisers where a group as a whole raised money for that group to go somewhere or do something. If a child didn't actively participate, their parents were sometimes required to pay their share of the cost for that child to attend that activity or take part in the program.

I guess what I'm asking here, is what is the point and the goal of selling these discount cards in your Yearbook class? Does it cover the cost of your getting one of the finished yearbooks for free? Would you otherwise have to pay for something out of your (or your parents') pocket? Or is it, perhaps, that the actual experience of selling the discount cards is the goal (i.e., developing selling skills, interacting with others, etc.)?

 

[mistoffolees]

When did yearbook become a class?!?!?!

It is in some schools. My school offered elective credit for Yearbook.

Yearbook reinforces a number of other skills - writing, art, critical thinking, and so on. In some cases, it also gives the student experience in sales, as well.

 

[cbg]

Even the OP doesn't say she will fail the CLASS. Only the PROJECT. And I see Sandy's point - if the purpose of the project is to teach the skills involved, than that's a very valid reason for the requirement.