Dad buys billboard for son after school won't recognize him as valedictorian

kctv5 ^ | June 18, 2018 | Emily Van de Riet

[bgill]

A dad from North Carolina bought his son a billboard to recognize him as class valedictorian since the school refused to do so. East Wake High in Wendell, North Carolina recently got rid of naming valedictorians and salutatorians. Instead, they give all high-achieving students Latin honors for a “better way to recognize students who may have barely missed being named valedictorian or salutatorian by several decimal places," according to the News & Observer.

[Steely Tom]

The valedictorian of my daughter's class (ceremony last Friday) gave a good speech, although he talked a little too fast for the acoustics of the huge arena.

At one point he asked the graduating class for a show of hands: "how many of you have had a job?"

It looked to me like about two-thirds of the senior class raised their hand, which was surprising and gratifying. My daughter was one of those with hand raised.

He then said "well, those of you who raised your hands have more useful life experience than I do."

[RedMonqey]

I didn't know GPAs went that high.

My niece will probably get a "5.31 GPA" or higher.

She takes all there advanced classes and gets perfect grades plus whatever extra credit. No grade inflation, she is wicked smart(she can debate with her much older uncles, me and my brother who has a Dr of Education)

She whines when she doesn't get a "100+" on a Latin test.(Really giiiirl, take that and run..FAST!) I kid my younger sister that her kid must be part alien(her father is dumb as a box of rocks)We are very proud of her!

[RooRoobird20]

I was ok with Summa Cum Laude but that was 46 years ago. I missed being valedictorian by 0.02 points. I was a little miffed because the valedictorian hadn’t taken any advanced math and science classes. In those days 4.00 was the highest grade you could get for an A, there was no distinction between an A in home ec, art or advanced calculus.

[ottbmare]

I went to a major state university. This was 35 years ago. Marks went from 0 to 5.

In high school we had marks up to 4.0, but it was possible to get above 4.0 by taking college courses as a high school student.

[yesthatjallen]

Sue

[Balding_Eagle]

That’s a good argument for having 97 presidents of the United States.

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

Good for the Dad and the son.The son will always remember that.

[Fred Hayek]

This is to offset those who get the 4.0 average by taking only the basic easy courses, who beat those who take advanced placement courses. For example, a senior taking basic algebra gets the easy A, versus another student taking AP Calculus getting a B. The more difficult courses, such as AP courses, get weighted in their favor.
I took AP Calculus and AP Chemistry before this was implemented.

[reg45]

Honors classes are often graded at a 5 or 6.

[reg45]

Saves money too.

[reg45]

Eventually, we will get to 97 United States Presidents, if the country lasts that long.

[mdmathis6]

He was a classy guy to have admitted that....I suspect he’ll do okay in life. such people with integrity generally do!

[Pelham]

Kids are sure as hell not smarter

Word.

I racked up a 1457 on the old 1600 SAT back in 1969. Knew kids from my jr high days back in Virginia who I struggled to keep up with- bet more than one aced it.

Today I meet college grads who astound me with how little they know. If they have a STEM degree they are least well educated in that field. But unlike years ago I am rarely intimidated by someone's breadth of knowledge. Maybe I just don't get out enough.

[bgill]

Yet, we didn’t elevate our grumbles to doing a Columbine like kids today.

[GreenHornet]

Me neither. Of course, there’s good reason that I wouldn’t know ho high GPAs go.

When I graduated college, my GPA was 4.0. Of course, that was cumulative over the 4 years.

[b4its2late]

Must be extra credit.

[Lazamataz]

Alla y’all make damned good points.

Unlike liberals, I shall alter my position, having been convinced by reason.

[Scrambler Bob]

I did the math.

I would be irked, too.

[joma89]

That is great and we need to fight against these schools who only want to give out participation trophies.

JoMa