Then, would you agree we need to get away from standardized testing?

 

I have had dozens of teachers tell me that they must teach so the kids can do better on the standardized testing instead of teaching the content that the kids actually need.

 

Standardized testing is stupid and IMO ruining school in general. Instead of teaching the content, they are teaching for a better score and missing out on the stuff that should be taught but numbers are apparently more important.

I don't think I did. I know your "participation trophy" comments; someone makes them in every thread. There are numerous types of diplomas kids can get and it is based on the classes/work they do in school. The problem, as others have mentioned, is that too many kids load up on classes at the expense of arts just to get a high GPA. Part of that is the exorbitant cost of college - a high GPA can help alleviate that. But it also costs kids a rounded educational experience.

 

Now, I don't think valedictorians should be eliminated. But I understand why some would. However, in no way is this a "participation trophy" situation.

 

It's not just arts. It's Physical Education, and vocational type classes that are disappearing too. My oldest son was top 10 in his class. Could have potentially been Valedictorian or Salutatorian, but instead of loading up on AP and other weighted classes (which he did have....he graduated with 12 college credits, and is basically a semester ahead in college right now), he took a couple Phys Ed classes as electives, which don't carry the same boost.

I don't think I did. I know your "participation trophy" comments; someone makes them in every thread. There are numerous types of diplomas kids can get and it is based on the classes/work they do in school. The problem, as others have mentioned, is that too many kids load up on classes at the expense of arts just to get a high GPA. Part of that is the exorbitant cost of college - a high GPA can help alleviate that. But it also costs kids a rounded educational experience.

 

Now, I don't think valedictorians should be eliminated. But I understand why some would. However, in no way is this a "participation trophy" situation.

 

That's where the school in the OP is going.

 

Some kids will pressure themselves and others will not. They always have and always will.

It's not just arts. It's Physical Education, and vocational type classes that are disappearing too. My oldest son was top 10 in his class. Could have potentially been Valedictorian or Salutatorian, but instead of loading up on AP and other weighted classes (which he did have....he graduated with 12 college credits, and is basically a semester ahead in college right now), he took a couple Phys Ed classes as electives, which don't carry the same boost.

 

My youngest son, who graduates tonight BTW, is along the same lines as your son. He was nowhere near the Valedictorian/Salutatorian score, he did pretty well. He took some AP classes and is graduating with 6 credit hours.

 

He did do well enough to snag a William C. Parker Scholarship from UK.

Soft. Weak.

 

This.

I don't necessarily agree with getting rid of the Valedictorian/Salutorian. Kenton County Schools have gone to Magna/Summa/CumLaude recognition starting with this years class.

 

I do understand some of reasoning behind it. The competition for Valedictorian has become so intense and cutthtroat, that kids are not taking classes like band, art, etc from their schedule because they do nothing for, and actually hurt the overall GPA because they carry no "weight". Or they forego extracurricular activities. Also, becoming a Valedictorian has become a process, one that if you do not plan and execute from day one, will exclude you from winning....it's part how smart you are and how well you do and part how well you play the game. Throw in the fact that many kids are taking college classes in high school which operate on a different grading system, just determining who is the Valedictorian has become a challenge. My youngest son is an example. Next year as junior (and most likely as a senior), over half his schedule will be comprised of college classes with a completely different grading scale. Because the scale is different, it is problematic to determine overall class rank, especially when the difference at the top is often in the thousandths of a point range (or even less).

 

I am with the crowd that wants to keep Valedictorian and Salutatorian but you do have an excellent point. A kid who plays in the band, with tons of extra practice, ensembles, school events participation, private lessons, etc. can't be the Valedictorian because of the weight given AP classes, etc that they can't take as many of because there isn't room in the schedule. This is particularly a problem in schools with block scheduling. Then add in what you mentioned with dual credit courses at local colleges and it seems like a nightmare to calculate. My kids' school basically keeps the kids unweighted gpa a secret and you have to practically beg them to learn your class rank. Graduation is Friday and the Valedictorian and Salutatorian have not been announced. I suppose those kids know but we'll find out Friday. You would have thought they could have announced it at the academic awards program this week.

 

But let's continue to recognize academic excellence. It highlights achievement in academics and thereby makes a statement that this is what we value most in our academic setting.

Wake up America. - Earl Pitts

I don't see this as a PC issue. Read my post as to some of the reasons that are causing schools to eliminate the Valedictorian award. It's not neccessarily about wanting to give everyone a trophy. With the evolution of the school systems and curriculums, the valedictorian award is becoming more about playing the game rather than it going to the smartest kid. And playing the game isn't necessarily the best for the student's education, especially as they are giving up things like band, chorus, sports, phys ed, and other extracurricular activities that help develop well rounded students, not just one's with really high GPA's. And as kids gravitate away from classes like Phys Ed, the Arts, these classes will be less and less offered. And one of the things we regularly crow and complain about is the disapearance of these types of offerings.

 

Again, I don't completely like it. But the valedictorian system (or any system) that doesn't encourage students to take a variety of courses, especially in the arts which help develop critical thinking, is worth looking at changing.

 

You and I have found common ground on something. I tip my cup of coffee to you.

 

Son was valedictorian in 1998. National Merit scholar finalist, all that stuff. At the graduation ceremony, all students' academic achievements were announced. I heard through the grapevine that several parents were upset with those announcements and how long they took. I don't know if the "announcing policy" was changed in later years or not.

 

As another posted, this is done in a separate awards program the week of graduation. I can't imagine how long that made your son's graduation ceremony. At these larger schools with 350+ students it would be interminable. As i recall, my graduating class had 6 valedictorians and 1 or 2 salutatorians. All the Valedictorians had 4.0. One of them I know had avoided the top science classes and math classes. He said he would have to take those in college any way so he might as well wait. His 4.0 counted as much as the other 5 who did take all the college prep classes. Perhaps weighted classes were developed to eliminate this situation, but we've created a monster.

You don't see this as a PC issue? That's the liberal agenda.

 

America should always be great. That's why I don't get why many want us to change what has built this country.

 

 

Yes I see it as a PC issue but I can't blame only the liberals for pushing PC issues/participation trophies. They are not alone. I get they are the easy target to blame but it is naive to believe it is only liberals pushing issues like this. Conservatives have little Johnnies that they want to see win also.

The trend I see in this country is to make everyone equal. That is a scary direction imo. Everyone is not equal and will never be equal. Seems the ones targeted most these days are successful people who have worked hard and earned their success. Why would someone want to bring that group down? This equality thing to not hurt feelings is a very dangerous path we are going down.

The trend I see in this country is to make everyone equal. That is a scary direction imo. Everyone is not equal and will never be equal. Seems the ones targeted most these days are successful people who have worked hard and earned their success. Why would someone want to bring that group down? This equality thing to not hurt feelings is a very dangerous path we are going down.

 

I agree that the successful are targeted.

 

Everyone needs to be TREATED equally. Everyone needs to offered the same OPPORTUNITY to succeed. This does not mean everyone will have the same success.

 

I believe this is what the "everyone needs to be equal" crowd is missing. They think they are entitled to what others have worked and achieved without having put in the same effort.

 

Why is someone else entitled to what you or I have worked and sacrificed for when they have not?

I don't see this as a PC issue. Read my post as to some of the reasons that are causing schools to eliminate the Valedictorian award. It's not neccessarily about wanting to give everyone a trophy. With the evolution of the school systems and curriculums, the valedictorian award is becoming more about playing the game rather than it going to the smartest kid. And playing the game isn't necessarily the best for the student's education, especially as they are giving up things like band, chorus, sports, phys ed, and other extracurricular activities that help develop well rounded students, not just one's with really high GPA's. And as kids gravitate away from classes like Phys Ed, the Arts, these classes will be less and less offered. And one of the things we regularly crow and complain about is the disapearance of these types of offerings.

 

Again, I don't completely like it. But the valedictorian system (or any system) that doesn't encourage students to take a variety of courses, especially in the arts which help develop critical thinking, is worth looking at changing.

 

I beg to differ with your statements. I know a young man who is a Class of 2016 Valedictorian, his GPA is excellent and he has 30 college hours and he letters in 5 sports, band, volunteers for church and community service, National Honor Society, member in a number of clubs, Student Council, and tutors fellow students. I don't know how he managed it either.

Once you start rewarding mediocrity at the expense of excellence, you begin to lose the essence of what this country was founded on. It is ok to be excellent at something.

Most Universities take such awards into consideration in the admissions process and at top schools, having this on the resume could make the difference between acceptance or rejection. If a kid can say that their high school did not give out this award, they may be able to make the claim that had it been awarded, their credentials would have merited winning it.

No more MVP's at sports banquets is next. This society is so screwed up.

 

Already here, and has been a long time. Coach refuses to recognize any individual athletic achievements at banquet......says its a team game and no place for individuals. Gives out academic awards, Varsity letters/bars and that is it :(

 

Oh, and also has a rule in the player/parent handbook saying "Must attend year-end banquet to receive Varsity letter" Go figure.....and I am not kidding:ohbrother: