In my school newspaper class (it's an actual class, not an after school activity), I got inducted into "Quill and Scroll" which is a journalism honors society. Unlike most honors societies, it's not something that you apply for, but something that you're automatically inducted into based on your performance over the year. Now that I'm in, I have to pay $22.65 to be a member of it, which I'm kind of pissed about. I mean, I'm sure I'll end up paying it, but that's a pretty big price for something I couldn't give a single fuck about. But as of today, my teacher is telling us that if he doesn't get our money for membership, then we won't get a grade for the final 9 weeks. This is the second time he's done this (the first time we had to go buy food from a place whose ad was run in our paper to receive a grade). Like I said, I'll probably end up paying the money, but technically he's not allowed to do that is he?

Doesn't sound right. Where does the $ go?

This is the dodgy part. Pay for grades?

9 bucks goes to buying the cord to go on our graduation gowns. The other 13 dollars is just a membership fee. I have no idea where it goes since Quill and Scroll doesn't have any meetings or anything. I know it doesn't go in the teacher's pockets, though, because I'm pretty sure it's a national society.

Sounds like the exact same response I would have had in highschool. Though, I probably would have written my column about it, and tried to slip it in there.
Ask your folks for the money...amd tell em 't's $50 and spend the remainder on a 5-block...that's DEFINITELY what I would have done in HS, come to think of it.

Either way, being required to pay money for a grade is kinda dodgy. The teacher can't really refuse you a grade if you don't pay, that has to be illegal somewhere in the law books.

yeah, i can't imagine this is legal. and that "buying food from a place that placed an ad" thing is totally ridiculous.

the trick is that you can't do this well in journalism and, hence, be inducted into an honor society that you don't care about.

Illegal.

besides illegal, it's just plain fucked up.

Yeah. Sounds like some of those "Who's Who" dealios I used to get in high school. What an honor! Now buy the book.

talk him down by telling people you'll claim he's an internet predator.

superill.

I teach Journalism and while that society is a resume thickening agent, this guy went about this the wrong way.

Gotta be an empty threat. The administration would disapprove.

We also have Quill & Scroll, and yes, its primary purpose seems to be a resume builder - it is based out of the university of Iowa I believe.

As I am only the assistant Advisor I do not know if he, the teacher/main Advisor has the students pay for the membership, ut it is quite possible that we use revenue from our ads sales to cover those costs for the students. We do not hold a grade over heads for something like that. that being said, they do have to sell advertising to be on staff.

Do you guys get a syllabus in the beginning of the year for that class? I'd say, that if you do, and grade calculation doesn't include the possibility of grade determined induction fees into societies that are an "honor" to be a part of, then you shouldn't have to pay for the grade.

Even if it did, its still insane.

Sounds like this guy is somehow pressured into getting certain things done: ads, memberships - and he has taken a really lame way to accomplish them.

We don't do ad sales, and I never could figure how to REQUIRE students to get sales by holding a grade over their heads. Doesn't seem kosher.