Posted on 12/24/2022 5:22:28 AM PST by Labyrinthos
For years, two administrators at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJ) have been withholding notifications of National Merit awards from the school’s families, most of them Asian, thus denying students the right to use those awards to boost their college-admission prospects and earn scholarships. This episode has emerged amid the school district’s new strategy of “equal outcomes for every student, without exception.” School administrators, for instance, have implemented an “equitable grading” policy that eliminates zeros, gives students a grade of 50 percent just for showing up, and assigns a cryptic code of “NTI” for assignments not turned in. It’s a race to the bottom.***
But TJ School officials had decided to withhold announcement of the award. Indeed, it turns out that the principal, Ann Bonitatibus, and the director of student services, Brandon Kosatka, have been withholding this information from families and the public for years, affecting the lives of at least 1,200 students over the principal’s tenure of five years. Recognition by National Merit opens the door to millions of dollars in college scholarships and 800 Special Scholarships from corporate sponsors.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Back in the day students did have their scores mailed to them so it probably didn’t cost them admission. It did cost them potential scholarship money though.
These scholarships are valuable for the families. This district is about to lose a lot of money.
There is a big difference between ‘smart people’ and eight year old children.
In the name of equity, let’s deny meritorious students the opportunities to get seats at good colleges.
“I don’t care if every seat is taken by an Asian if they’ve earned the right to be there.” - Then California Governor Ronald Reagan
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In the name of being fair to underachievers, we’ll just be unfair to those who applied themselves and teach them that it’s not worth the effort.
The same kind of hypocrisy by the tolerant progressives who won’t tolerate intolerance.
1200 students at say $10k in lost scholarship opportunities each (on the low end) is $12 million in damages just to get rolling. Final number in a good lawsuit could easily be 10X that.
Charles Murray was correct.
Convince me otherwise.
Good catch. Both the students and the principals receive notification.
School students also receive their notifications directly.
Here's a link to the National Merit Scholarship FAQs: Scholarships Awarded FAQ
The second question asks, "When and how are finalists notified that they have been awarded a scholarship?"
The answer indicates both the scholars and their high school principals are notified.
It's also mentioned elsewhere on the website: National Merit Scholarship Program
"In February, over 15,000 Semifinalists are notified that they have advanced to Finalist standing. High school principals are also notified and provided with a Certificate of Merit to present to each Finalist."
If I were this student's parent, I would've been nagging him every day to check for a notification. But, if my kids had gone to school, maybe we would've been conditioned to sit and wait for teachers and principals to hand everything to us, too.
Then again, this student was a “Commended Student,” whereas the info I found was about finalists.
Still, the website indicates the students can check their results online. It sounds similar to how students check their SAT results.
Thanks for the info.
But, this news story is spin. This school isn't hiding anyone's National Merit status in the name of "equity."
In September, this school system proudly posted a complete list of Semifinalists online here.
It also publishes its list of Finalists and National Merit Scholars online and in newspapers.
Commended students score high, but not as high as semifinalists or finalists.
Apparently, the school didn't take the Commended status seriously enough, and they didn't hand out certificates in time. Shame on the school for dropping the ball.
But, if the school were so concerned about hurting the feelings of students who didn't get top scores, why would it publish the names of the students who scored even higher?
Nah... The school might've dropped the ceremony for a silly reason. But, the reason the certificates weren't handed out in time looks more like plain old incompetence.
There is a big difference between ‘smart people’ and eight year old children.
I did as well but we didn’t know enough to tell our parents so they could advocate for us.
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