Once upon a time being the valedictorian of your high school actually meant something... that was then, this is now.

One high school — 44 valedictorians

Yes, the Pacific Nut-West strikes again, a Seattle High School has 44 valedictorians and they're all very special people... just ask any of the parents or the school staff.

This year's 406-member graduating class at Garfield High School features 44 valedictorians. Forty-four students with perfect 4.0 grade-point averages who, over seven semesters of mostly honors and Advanced Placement classes, have never earned less than an A.

Not to belittle the accomplishments of these students, but when I graduated from High School (lo these many moons ago) there were 463 students in my class and we had 1 each - valedictorian, salutatorian. Now I realize it's coming up to nearly 30 years ago since that point... but you can't expect me to believe that kids have gotten that much smarter... I've talked to many kids over the years - it just ain't so!

I am quite sure there are probably 5 students (tops) who could possibly be rightfully vying for the honor - there are always a certain small number of students who will work their butts off and really are smart...

But they can't fool the kids with this kind of mediocrity.

"It's definitely a sign of egregious grade inflation," said Nathan Pflueger, one of Garfield's 4.0 seniors.

and

Sophie Egan, senior-class president, captain of the girls track team and another valedictorian, points out that Garfield doesn't have a weighted grading system, as do many districts outside Seattle.

Yeah, it must make some of the students just cringe when they see someone getting A's in basketweaving and it counts just as much as their own A's in AP Calculus! (But we all know that all students are special - right? and basketweaving can be very difficult!)

Then there is the inevitable conundrum... who gets to speak? That's one of the primary honors of being the valedictorian.

A plan to have the valedictorians elect two speakers was shot down after Principal Ted Howard talked with class officers and other seniors. The consensus, Howard said, was that the school's smartest kids should have their moment in the spotlight.

At graduation ceremonies Monday at Qwest Field, 35 of the valedictorians will give a brief, inspirational quote. The other nine opted not to speak.

OMG - shoot me now!!! That ceremony is going to take HOURS!!! Heaven forbid you actually make a hard choice - heaven forbid that graduating seniors find out that life ain't always fair!

Now if you read the whole thing... you will finally get the the real reason there are so many valedictorians and why all of them get to speak...

"After special education, the biggest number of school court cases is around the selection of valedictorians," he said.

Ah yes, the ubiquitous lawsuit the American way to cow any school. The best way in the world to promote mediocrity. It's very sad that people think this is the way to make their lives better... all it does is make the high achievers angry and the low achievers feel guilty. Because we all know when we truly deserve an honor, just as we all know when an honor is being handed out like candy.

So, go read the article - find out about "national grading experts" and tenths of points and how none of this matters...

If you've seen the movie The Incredibles you know that "when everybody is special... no one will be".

Posted by: Teresa in Education at 01:14 PM | Comments (12) | Add Comment
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1 How dumb! My high school of 100 graduating seniors had about 12 valedictorians. I think it was anyone with above a 4.0 (if we took an honors or AP class, an A was 5, a B was 4, a C was 3 and a D was 1) I was like 15 of the 100. I didn't want to be a valedictorian. I'm glad I didn't get to. It ruins the honor of valedictorian. Lame!

Posted by: Sissy at June 15, 2005 02:11 PM (uXS+O)

2 That quote from The Incredibles is my favorite movie line of last year.

Posted by: littlejoe at June 15, 2005 06:26 PM (QJRRo)

3 I am reminded of Garrison Keillor "Welcome to Lake Wobegon, where all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average. "

Posted by: James at June 15, 2005 07:00 PM (rdrJc)

4 Don't be talkin' smack about basket-weavers!

Do you have ANY idea how hard it is to find a decent hand-woven basket? ;-)

Posted by: Harvey at June 16, 2005 04:05 AM (ubhj8)

5 That's just wrong in so many ways...

Posted by: pam at June 16, 2005 05:15 AM (l6NIn)

6 And in my own back-yard, too! *hangs head*

D*mn, that is just plain dumb... Thanks for the news, Teresa!

Posted by: Barb at June 16, 2005 06:39 AM (u8Zgq)

7 Talk about grade inflation. I'm sure there will be some very 'disappointed' college freshmen next year. Or maybe it will happen once they get into the real work world. Then maybe they won't "feel" so special. What a crock.

Posted by: toni at June 16, 2005 07:26 AM (SHqVu)

8 What I'd like to know - and of course will never find out - is how many of these valedictorians actually make it through the first year of college and don't drop out...

Posted by: Teresa at June 16, 2005 07:31 AM (nAfYo)

9 Ah, you see...we are all equal, but some of us are more equal than others.

I'd bet the numbers on first year dropouts in college wouldn't surprise you a bit, Teresa. The person who should have been up there will survive...the weavers will not. The rest will fall somewhere between, just like the rest of us.

Barb sent me over, nice place you got here

Posted by: Brian at June 16, 2005 10:40 AM (WV/LJ)

10 I was in a 3 way tie with 2 other students Going for valedectorian. They added other factors: such as community service, attendance, etc. I lost by being out sick 1 day. I was named salutatorian and got to read a poem of my choice. I thought that process was fair.

Posted by: michele at June 16, 2005 12:07 PM (ht2RK)

11 Well Teresa, look at how close I was to being one of the many valedictorians...and I got kicked out of college my first year. And I kept in touch with some of them, I know at least 3 that did not finish their degree.

Posted by: Sissy at June 16, 2005 02:24 PM (uXS+O)

12 You know, it doesn't take much to thrive in many colleges these days. Just go along with the status quo, join, or better yet, organize a few protests, and you're golden. Unshaven armpits are just a bonus.

Posted by: littlejoe at June 16, 2005 08:17 PM (QJRRo)

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