Posted on 03/31/2011 11:20:01 PM PDT by MacMattico
So, my kid gets the "you have not been selected for junior honor society" letter in the mail today. The reason given: not enough community organization or leadership activities!!!!!!
When I saw the term "community organization" I about flipped!
The thing is my kid has a 95 plus average, is a member of all-county chorus, all-county band, Soccer, Volleyball, Softball and Girl Scouts. She earned her black belt in Kenpo Karate at age 12 and helps teach younger students. Her group got first place at the regional National History day competition and goes on to the next level in a few weeks. She plays the oboe and played her solo at a level 5, level 6 being the highest level in the state (including high school) even though she's only in 7th grade.
I politely asked what she could have done more, because between homework, music lessons and sports practices their is really not much more time left in the day. I was told first of all, she could attempt to hold more leadership positions in the organizations she is in in school, such as being team captain or an officer in a club. I reminded them that her middle school does not have team captains and that the clubs don't have officers. The exception being Student Council, where she did run for Secretary but lost in a 5-way race. Then I asked about the Community Organization part, and I'm told that she should be spending all of her "extra" time (what extra time?) serving the community doing things like volunteering in soup kitchens, volunteering for "assorted groups" and just generally serving others. I told them that we do charity work as a family through our church and not always on a regular basis, it's not something you can quantify on an application. I got no reply. So I asked if she could give me some specific examples that other students had under community organization in case my daughter wished to peruse those community activities in order to reapply next year. No, I was told, that information can't be given out as it would violate other students privacy! What???? I asked if applications are verified, like do they check on what kids write down -- nope, taken as fact. No essay was required, so that wasn't a problem. Anybody have experience with this?
I called the adviser and was told decisions were final and that's it. I said that sounds real fair, if it were a disciplinary problem my daughter would have rights and due process. But being a smart, good kid-- no such rights. She out right lied to me and when I quoted from the NHS handbook, she then had nothing to say.
I know it's not the end of the world, but it's the principle of the thing to me.
Congrats to your son!
It’s just the principle of the whole thing that makes me so mad!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.