Thursday, September 13, 2007

School Grades Matter, At Least to One Gamestop Store


When a school-aged kid enters Gamestop to purchase a game, the thought of how well they’re doing in school and how good their grades are usually don’t come to mind. However, one store in Dallas, Texas, is trying to change kid’s thoughts on this subject by offering rewards – and setbacks – depending on how good or bad their grades are in school.


It’s simple: the Gamestop manager of this particular location, Brandon Scott, will refuse to let a student purchase a game if their parents can’t confirm that they’re making solid grades. If their grades are good, the kids can purchase them. If exceptionally great (straight A’s)…


"If you give me straight As with your teachers signature, endorsing it and your parent up here, I'll buy you a brand new game,"

Says Scott

This Gamestop is located in the poverty stricken south side of Dallas, where school grades are significantly lower than many other parts of the city.

Personally, I don’t think that this is a wise idea and it most likely won’t work out for long. Yes, it’s important to earn good grades in school and all, but if a kid is failing and school and wants to purchase a game, Gamestop is not their sole option. I’m sure there are numerous other places to shop.

Also, in the article Scott mentioned that the Gamestop corporation knows nothing of this. Once they do, they’re sure to shut this policy down. Plus, shouldn’t we be more concerned about the quality of the subjects the kids are learning in school rather than the grades? Many inner-city schools in the U.S. are horrible places to be, full of violence and other sorts of problems. Even if these children are getting straight A’s, are they really learning anything? That’s a whole other subject, anyway.


Source

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11 Comments:

At 10:54 AM, Blogger gnome said...

I'd agree... It's not a bad idea, rather a pointless one...

(it's a feat of willpower, but I won't start discussing education in general)

 
At 11:18 AM, Blogger Matthew Kris said...

Knowing Gamestop...the manager is likely to be fired soon.

 
At 1:55 PM, Blogger Unknown said...

with the news that Gamestop are now to include an area for live bands.. and "kid friendly" games.. let's hope the manager holds down he's job....

(tempts gnome to discuss education using a chocolate eclair......)

 
At 6:10 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm going to play devils advocate: This may be a good idea in theory but is full of holes when you examine it. For one, i doubt games are the sole reason for bad grades. Another, they can get games else where. Three, I think it's an invasion to privacy. Why should a strange guy be in someone elses kids business and wanting to know there grades. Another, the company didn't even endorce it. Not to mention that the parent could just say they are getting good grades as a lie to get around the policy. Personally if I had kids, I wouldnt want a guy I dont know asking them to report their grades to them. The parents are the ones that are responcible and this policey is impossible to realisticly enforce. It seems when ever there is something wrong people wants to make rules. Then we end up living in a world where everything is outlawed. Oh wells.

 
At 8:27 PM, Blogger Ross said...

For more on my thoughts on the modern education system, take a peek at the book 'Dumbing Us Down'. It's a brief and interesting read.

And oh nameless one, I actually agree with you totally (as I pointed out in my last two paragraphs). Those are all excellent points, but rest assured this policy will probably be put to end rather soon. Word will spread to Gamestop corporate and this will be the end of that fellow working there.

Thanks for the comments everyone.

 
At 12:48 AM, Blogger The Sports Satirist said...

This is absurd because kids are going to have their parents buy games if the store refuses to sell it to them. There are so many parents that buy Mature rated games for their children because their kids are under age. It is like how college students buy alcohol for high school students. Good or bad grades won't prevent children from playing. It is the same concept.

 
At 11:56 AM, Blogger Ross said...

Turns out some of us were right about bad things coming to the way of the manager. He is now suspended. I guess he regrets creating the policy now, eh?

 
At 8:06 PM, Blogger The Sports Satirist said...

Suspended? That makes absolutely no sense. He should have been fired.

 
At 6:56 PM, Blogger The Sports Satirist said...

By the way, did you want to exchange links? Already added yours to my blog.

 
At 3:06 PM, Blogger Ross said...

Thanks Funnyman, I update every weekend (usually Sundays) and I was going to ask you then if you wanted to do a link exchange. I'll add yours the next time I update (I would do it now but there are some things I need to clean up on the template).

 
At 11:59 AM, Blogger The Sports Satirist said...

Cool. I look forward to the link exchange.

 

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