Kid genius just can't get ahead

NY Daily News ^ | 7/16/03 | JOE WILLIAMS

[jalisco555]

Angela Lipsman is a really smart kid, but a really, really dumb rule is keeping the 15-year-old from getting a college degree. Angela, who skipped high school and went straight to college last year, has earned her associate's degree and is on her way to a bachelor's - but she can't have the sheepskins because she never got a high school diploma.

Even worse, the gifted girl's proud dad is being investigated by child protective services for alleged educational neglect - for letting his daughter go to college.

"It's not fair," said Angela, who has a 3.84 grade point average and 71 credits from Borough of Manhattan Community College and Fashion Institute of Technology. "I'm still going to school and I'm still getting an education."

The hard lesson came from an Albany judge who ruled against Angela's age-discrimination suit challenging the state Education Department's edict that kids have to stay in school until age 16 and can't get general equivalency diplomas until they turn 17.

Angela's father, retired teacher Daniel Lipsman, figures she'll have her bachelor's degree wrapped up by the time she turns 17 and will then get three diplomas at once - including the GED.

"It's very demoralizing," said Lipsman, who vowed that he'll "go to prison before my daughter goes to a city high school."

Albany Supreme Court Justice Bernard Malone blamed Lipsman for steering his brainy daughter to college after she completed eighth grade at Public School 187 in Washington Heights.

"Angela was not legally free to skip high school," Malone wrote this week in ruling against Angela.

He noted that Angela could have been declared a home-schooled student and placed in a fast-track program, or she could have attended high school programs that allow students to earn college credits simultaneously.

Dad will appeal

Lipsman said he probably will appeal the decision. But he was still holding out hope the city Education Department would grant his daughter a diploma.

Yesterday, Schools Chancellor Joel Klein offered hope to Angela, who recently learned she has enough transfer credits for an associate's degree from Albany-based Excelsior College.

"We are evaluating the student's college credits to determine whether the credits may be applied toward a high school diploma," Klein said in a written statement.

[jalisco555]

"It's very demoralizing," said Lipsman, who vowed that he'll "go to prison before my daughter goes to a city high school."

I believe per pupil spending in NYC is the highest in the nation, or perhaps just behind that of DC, another educational disaster.

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[Mr. K]

GOVT BUREAUCRACY GONE AMOK!

[CalvaryJohn]

This guy could have declared his daughter home schooled and put her on a fast track. He could have avoided this, and still have his daughter attending college. Don't blame the system on this one, folks. This guy is being a jerk.

[Jhensy]

Angela, who has a 3.84 grade point average and 71 credits from Borough of Manhattan Community College and Fashion Institute of Technology.

I'm suddenly not so impressed.

[RockyMtnMan]

"Angela was not legally free to skip high school," Malone wrote this week in ruling against Angela.

Precisely which part of the constitution requires anyone to go to school or says the government can enforce such a law?

[BADROTOFINGER]

Sorry, cant agree with you there. She has completed all the courses with a 3.84 gpa and they are saying that she cant have the degree because she doesnt have a piece of paper held by some educrat puke gatekeepers. That is like saying that Jeff Gordon (or any other NASCAR driver) cant take the checkered flag home after winning a race because they dont possess a drivers license...JFK

[Manic_Episode]

Splitting hairs. The law is designed to keep kids from dropping out and ruining their lives, which has obviously not happened in this case. The judge is a jackass.

[Darksheare]

"Angela was not legally free to skip high school," Malone wrote this week in ruling against Angela.

And what pea brained (Peebrained) idiot is this guy?
If she earned it, then she earned it.
Cripes, this is the "You are too smart for us, you will be penalised!" mindset.
("You are not like us! You must be ostracised!")

[Alouette]

Fashion Institute of Technology.

That's Elle Woods' alma mater! Is Angela a Delta Nu?

[DB]

I guess she's a fashion genius...

[LaraCroft]

BS.. we should be free to educate our children as we wish, without the 'approval' of the government. Expecially when they do such a piss poor job of it themselves.

The school is mad about ONE thing. They are missing out on 4 years of tax money for her. They couldn't care less about her education, since it is obvious that she is beyond anything they could teach her in high school.

[ladyjane]

Not impressed? I'm more likely to be impressed by an A from those schools than more well kown ones. Many of the junior colleges and community colleges have tough grading practices. The most prestigous private schools give mostly high grades and graduate more than half the students with honors.

[jalisco555]

The school is mad about ONE thing. They are missing out on 4 years of tax money for her. They couldn't care less about her education, since it is obvious that she is beyond anything they could teach her in high school.

They also fear the precedent this might set. What if thousands of parents decided to take this step? The New York public schools are full of kids languishing in an educational desert. And New York is not alone.

[EggsAckley]

I think my tag line just about says it all.
~</;o)

[Oberon]

This guy is being a jerk.

Oh, I don't know. He's certainly refusing to jump through administrative hoops.

[jalisco555]

The most prestigous private schools give mostly high grades and graduate more than half the students with honors.

That's the dirty little secret of higher education. My theory of why they do this is because grateful honors graduates become generous alumni down the road. A topic for it's own thread, I think.

[ModelBreaker]

Agreed. My wife teaches intellectual property at a local jc. She grades on a curve. She gives 'F's.' She expects her students in class and doesn't buy the "my uncle died and I couldn't call for three days while the final was being given could I take the final next week???" bs.

You get an 'A' in her class, it means something. You get an 'F', it means something too.

I don't think this happens in a lot of the prestige colleges.

[lormand]

"Even worse, the gifted girl's proud dad is being investigated by child protective services for alleged educational neglect - for letting his daughter go to college."

This is proof that the "education" industry is dead.

[AppyPappy]

My father-in-law passed the GED and they wouldn't let him have it because he never completed 6th grade.