Student with top grades won't be valedictorian

Dallas Morning News ^ | 5/29/2008 | Laurie Fox

[TexasNative2000]

Grapevine High School senior Anjali Datta holds the highest grade-point average of the 471 students graduating from Grapevine High School this year.

In fact, Grapevine-Colleyville ISD officials believe her GPA of 5.898 may be the highest in the high school's history.

[TexasNative2000]

It doesn't seem like that tough a call to me. Highest grades equals valedictorian.

[Loud Mime]

Stupid Rules, stupid bureaucrats.

Imagine giving her the title, then some wannabee filing suit; the case would be laughed out of court.

But, this is one hell of a line for a resume.

[politicket]

My nephew just graduated out here in Colorado, and his class named 23 valedictorians (all but three with a lower G.P.A. than my nephew). BTW, my nephew was not one of the valectictorians - go figure...

[TexasNative2000]

23 valedictorians

?!? Top grade out of each ethnic group?

[dsc]

Wankers.

They talk about competence testing for teachers and performance standards, but they ought to start with IQ tests and psychiatric observation.

[TexasNative2000]

Stupid Rules, stupid bureaucrats.

Something about the letter of the law, not the spirit of the law.

[Rightwing Conspiratr1]

GPA of 5.898

If an straight A's is 4.0, then how is a 5.898 even possible.

[TexasNative2000]

Honors Courses. They result in higher grade points.

[SkyDancer]

In the new Liberal school system everybody is a winner ....

[Always Right]

She complete her four years of high school in three calendar years. It doesn’t change the fact that it was four years of school. A school year is meeting a certain requirement for class credits, not a period of time.

[colorado tanker]

So, she can't be valedictorian because she's so smart she took advanced courses and graduated early???

This says a lot more about the intelligence of "educators" than it does this student.

[politicket]

?!? Top grade out of each ethnic group?

That's really the least of it out here. The school districts have decided that the absolute lowest score that a student can get on an assignment is 50%. All they have to do is turn the paper in with their name on it.

Their reasoning goes like this: A = 90 - 99; B = 80-89; C = 70-79; D = 60 -69; F = 0 - 59. That's UNFAIR!!!. "F" should have the same 10 point range as the other grades, otherwise students will get too far behind and not be able to pass a course.

Reason# 10,940,701 why we homeschool...

[rightwinggoth]

Indian?

[ozaukeemom]

When I graduated high school, a million years ago, we had a young man who was to be valedictorian. His 2 younger brothers decided to graduate early at 3 years and took both of the top spots. He never recovered. His brothers got the scholarships and the accolades. He worked so hard for those 4 years. His parent did this to him and it was cruel.

I understand where the young woman is coming from, don’t get me wrong. I admire her and agree she deserves the honor. Just letting you hear another side.

[dayglored]

> "Anjali's experience will surely send a strong negative signal to other talented students trying to excel... They will most certainly be discouraged from trying to do their best – instead will be more focused on gaming the system."

This decision SUCKS. The school is doing EVERYONE a disservice.

Follow the money -- somebody is getting a payoff for this travesty.

[Joann37]

For those of you who did not read the article, it’s even worse than it seems. The girl was also denied a scholarship, which went to the 2nd place student instead.

And she was also advised by a counselor that her graduating in three years would not jeapordize her valedictory status.

What a tragic story. Too bad the school district lacks the wisdom to reward her for her accomplishments.

[phoenix0468]

"There was a lot of thought involved in this. There is no perfect answer," she said.

I wonder what they consider "a lot" of thought. And there is honestly only one answer. Give the honor to the student graduating with the best GPA, the student has completed four years worth of high school work and should be rewarded for it.

[TexasNative2000]

Indian?

Well, it appears to be an Indian heritage name, but the article doesn't specify. I will assume they are American.

[GreaterSwiss]

We should each donate $20 to create a scholarship for her.

Call it the Award for Dealing with Stupid Government Officials

[phoenix0468]

Some schools are measuring the honor not only on GPA but also on the students activities and honors while a student. I don’t entirely disagree with this. I think that GPA is not the be all end all of student excellence.