OK, time for a current events quiz. What was the most disturbing aspect of a Goldsboro middle school principal’s decision to allow kids to earn grades by selling candy for a fundraiser. Was it:

a) That the parent advisory council that pitched the scheme felt so pressured to raise money to supplement programs once funded by the school district that they resorted to the candy-for-grades scheme?

b) That kids were once again pressured to knock on doors to raise money for a fundraiser?

c) That Rosewood Middle School Principal Susie Shepherd was quick to sign off on the deal?

d) That it was candy the kids were being enticed to sell — candy despite a growing epidemic of childhood obesity?

The answer is “all of the above.” PTAs are under more pressure than ever to bridge funding gaps, thanks to the recession; school kids should be learning and playing kickball at recess, not worrying about fulfilling their most recent fundraiser sales quota; the principal is supposed to be the voice of reason, not some Wall Street CEO signing off on cockamamie money-making schemes.

Four our purposes here at GetGoingNC.com, however, the most distressing part of this mess — the deal was scrubbed this week after Wayne County school administrators got wind of it, btw — is d), that while we give a lot of lip service to the childhood obesity epidemic, we still resort to selling candy to raise money. Don’t eat this, but could you sell 100 boxes to help us buy playground equipment? Sends a real mixed message to the kids.

Fortunately, a growing number of PTAs have abandoned this longtime fundraising crutch and are holding healthy fundraisers. 5K races, for instance, have become popular — and lucrative — fundraisers at a number of schools. In Wake County, Ligon and Moore Square middle schools and Jones Dairy Elementary School, among others, hold 5Ks that raise significant funds for their PTAs.

And the runs aren’t one-time events. Fuquay-Varina Elementary School’s Rocket Run includes a jogging club in which classes compete to run the most laps, with the winner earning the coveted Golden Shoe award. Every kid in the school — more than 900 — participates. The Rocket Run raises money and helps raise healthier kids. At AB Combs Elementary, the spring Gator Gallop, which also caps a year-long training effort, has evolved into the school’s top fundraiser. In fact, the Wake County PTA now sponsors the upcoming Wake County Healthy Lifestyles 5K, which benefits PTAs countywide.

Talk to the organizers of these events and they’ll tell you they make money and the kids get into it. A lot more than they do lugging sample cases through the neighborhood hawking candy, cookie dough and peanut brittle.

Of course, don’t be surprised if there’s a little grade payola going on with the races as well: Healthier kids, higher grades in PE.

Is your PTA holding a healthy fundraiser? Share the details with GetGoingNC.com and we’ll do what we can to help get the word out.

Photo: A.B. Combs’ Gator Gallup aims to raise $10,000.