[PhiKapMom]

Here in Norman, OK, we don't have valedictorians and the speakers are chosen by the class. When my daughter graduated they had 41 students with a 4.0 average that graduated with Honors. Even with Honors classes you cannot make over a 4.0 here.

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

"If they are not number one, it could get their feelings hurt if they are self-motivating and high-achieving students," Black said.

The destruction of publik ejukashun continues as the band plays on.

[quebecois]

This article contains so many gigantic piles of liberal doltery that I hardly know where to begin. I'm amazed at the extent to which liberals hate individual success, and the extent to which they labor to rationalize mediocrity.

[upchuck]

Hey, whinning liberals! Face it. Somebody's got to be the best. Always has been and always will be. Get used to it.

[MotleyGirl70]

"If they are not number one, it could get their feelings hurt if they are self-motivating and high-achieving students," Black said.

This sounds so clintonesque. Give me a break. What have public schools turned into. They are turning our future adults into a bunch overly sensitive wimps. Just wait until they enter the real world their little "feelings" get hurt. Then again, this IS California, so I really shouldn't be THAT surprised.

These school board officals have NO BACKBONE. Until they get one, all I can do is offer the below.

[Centurion2000]

School board members and Principal Bill Black say that competition makes for an unhealthy educational environment

This has got to be one of the stupidest ideas that I've ever heard. If they think it's not supposed to be competitive in the school environment, God help these students when it comes time to get a job.

[Pharmboy]

"Ideally the valedictorian program should recognize the most successful students or student, but at this point we're wondering if it's recognizing the most successful strategist," said Tom DeSantis, Hemet Unified School District board member.

Strategy counts too, you liberal *sshole.

[mhking]

That's nuts. When I was in high school, I was the "best speaker", simply by virtue of being the local Saturday afternoon disc jockey at the local radio station (back when they actually WERE records)! Using that logic, I would have been chosen for that spot, when I wasn't number one in the class (I was 25th or so - out of a class of 750).

These hand-wringing morons really get on my last nerve...

"Hold muh beer 'n watch this!" PING....

If you want on or off this list, please let me know!

[MotleyGirl70]

But some in Hemet wonder if abolishing the valedictorian award could lead to banning other traditional high school honors, like homecoming queen and team captains.

I'm sure it's only a matter of time.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I disagree with the policy to the extent it is trying to discourage competition or reward outstanding students.

But I think there is a real problem nowadays with grades. When I was in school, the grading system was very clearcut, class choices were minimal, and I never heard of any kind of gamesmanship when it came to grades. The valedictorian was the best student, and there was no quibbling about it.

Now, there are these very elaborate grading systems, and it's clear that many kids game the system to achieve higher GPAs.

[griffin]

4.6 out of 4.0? Lots of extra credit. Maybe a person needs all that extra credit when it is easy to get a 4.0 in 2003 with respect to the level of difficulty it required in 1950. Another great example of the dumbing down of our kids...school'em to the lowest common denominator.

[Salvation]

**But some in Hemet wonder if abolishing the valedictorian award could lead to banning other traditional high school honors, like homecoming queen and team captains.**

I think this school district needs to be freeped big time with this question!!

[Salvation]

Obviously Hannity and O'Reilly have this story. What about Rush and Savage?

[The KG9 Kid]

Hemet, CA isn't near Los Angeles. It's in Riverside County, and is closer to San Diego than LA.

Riverside County is what passes for 'Conservative' in Southern California.

[N. Theknow]

Valedictorian, Salutatorian and Class Superlatives (Most Likely to Succeed, Prettiest, Most Athletic, etc.) were always used as a gauge to see how you compared at Class Reunions.

Valedictorian or Salutatorian were achieved honors. However, one or the other of them was usually elected by their classmates as Most Likely to Succeed. Then at class reunions it usually turned out that in the real world they were incapable of pouring piss out of a boot that had directions printed on the heel.

"Prettiest" and "Most Athletic" usually turned out to be "Most Calorically Endowed" and "Best Beer-Belly".

My class should have had a "Biggest Change From a Wallflower to a Miss VaVoom" category for one of my former classmates. Hardly anyone knew her name or face in school. All the guys knew her name and some even noticed her face at the reunion.

[Motherhood IS a career]

I thought this was some kind of satire, especially when I saw the old "it could get their feelings hurt" bit. But then I noticed that it's in L.A.

I'm sure that in time, the NEA will push for a Pass/Fail system, to eliminate all that "unhealthy" competition, but then sooner or later it will occur to them that "it could get their feelings hurt" when some of the kids fail.