School Board Considers Banning Valedictorian Award (Los Angeles)

foxnews ^ | February 23, 2003

[Indy Pendance]

LOS ANGELES

[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.

[Tax-chick]

I know I have to be at the top of my class in order to succeed in life

But you have to admit they're successful at brainwashing the uber-drones! Get a life, sweetie!

[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.

[Sonny M]

I always believed that a school should have a valedictorian, its tradition and its a nice way to reward a students who have done the best. For those who don't make it, they are still on the honor roll. I know some schools, you can get over a 4.0, alot of honors programs automatically add points to your average.

[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.

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

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

This is a (presumably literate) High School Principal speaking? Has he ever HEARD of verb/object agreement? I would make him diagram this sentence on the blackboard 50 times, until he figures out what is wrong with it (HINT: just about everything.)

I'm betting that HE wasn't the Valedictorian of HIS class...

[PhiKapMom]

There are just too many here in our schools that have a perfect GPA to pick only one of them. So they have gone the graduated with Honors Route. I know the speeches are a whole lot better with the students picked by their peers instead of some I sat through with Valedictorians. They graduate over 400 here and we get out in a little less than two hours which is great!

[MeekOneGOP]

L.A. is a Liberal LaLaLand ...

Competition is unhealthy ? Sheesh ! ...

[DensaMensa]

Even with Honors classes you cannot make over a 4.0 here.

That's due to "grade inflation" which began in the '60s. Before then almost no one made a 4.0 so picking the Val and Sal was not difficult. If there was a tie, they flipped a coin.