Hardest workers deserve accolade
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Cristina Toscano
What do you think of when you hear the word “valedictorian”? I assume most of us know the title typically means “a student who has earned their spot as having the highest grade point average, GPA, in his or her graduating class.” Lately it has been a growing trend among high schools in the U.S. to sprinkle a few more students in there. And by “a few,” I mean anywhere ranging from three to 94 students.
In an article from The New York Times, “Principals say that recognizing multiple valedictorians reduces pressure and competition among students, and is a more equitable way to honor achievement, particularly when No. 1 and No. 5 may be separated by only the smallest fraction of a grade from sophomore science.”
That small fraction of a grade really can make a difference between the student who stayed in on a Saturday night to study for that science exam and the student who put off studying until they were cured from their weekend road trip.
When I graduated from high school in 2008, we had three valedictorians, but we had only 122 in our graduating class. It was known they all had the exact same GPA down to the last decimal, but I still wondered if test scores and community service were ever taken into account. I was not one of the three valedictorians, but I certainly can empathize with the student who knows for a fact they worked harder to deserve the title more than the person standing next to them.
I doubt being one of three people to speak at graduation and receive the title of valedictorian probably would not feel as special when it basically means an individual was as smart and hardworking as a bunch of other people.
Bestowing everyone with that honorary title lessens the motivation for future students to work harder. It sets an example that teaches students to expect the same kind of treatment as they continue to grow up and enter the real world. Why would anyone even have the desire to work harder at anything if it is hardly recognized?
It seems as though we live in a time where it looks better to diminish the significance of accomplishments because — heaven forbid — the toes of some inordinately overbearing parents and their equally whiny teenagers might be stepped on. One day these students are going to experience failures in their lives either from not getting a job that 30 other applicants want or not getting the guy that 30 other girls want.
When we enter college and are one of 400 students in a class, we’re lucky if our professor even remembers our name, let alone our GPA or ACT scores. I think these post-high school rejections and feelings of unimportance might sting a little bit more than telling a student he or she didn’t cut it for the position of valedictorian. Besides, during the long speeches of graduation, shouldn’t students be glad they don’t have to be the next one in line so they can sit back and enjoy the larger moment?
Many people jump to the conclusion that teachers and school administrators are inflating grades to give their schools higher rankings and send their students off to the best colleges in the nation.
Overbearing parents also might bear some of the blame. All parents want to see their children succeed, but some will go to unfair lengths to see that it happens — even if by doing so they water down the meaning of those accomplishments.
I understand school administrators are all trying to be fair and I certainly have no qualms with a second or third place, but at the end of the day there can be only one winner. I think that winner should be decided not only by who possesses the highest GPA and test scores of all of those graduating, but also who volunteers, demonstrates leadership abilities within their extracurricular activities and gives back to their community.
The competition to be the best in high school can be cutthroat, and that reputation is well deserved. At the same time, I still maintain that a person’s abilities aren’t simply defined by numbers. Their true character will eventually become clear when they enter the real world.
Cristina Toscano is a State News guest columnist. Reach her at toscanoc@msu.edu.
Commentary
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mvt
(07/07/10 10:12pm)Report
I’m glad to see that you’ve seen through the charade, Cristina.
The ‘educators’ who take the positions you describe are not doing their charges any favors. By trying to somehow protect them from competition they are failing to properly prepare them for life. Some people get the promotion, some do not. Some people get laid off or fired because they are not doing the job well enough. It is simply a part of life.
I had to laugh when our local school district was about to do away with Valedictorian/Salutatorian designations completely. The principal (and advocate of the change) was the former basketball coach. Did he shrink from naming the starters for his team when he coached ? No. Competing for playing time makes players better. Learning to handle the disappointment of not quite making number one can also be positive for personal growth.
Nigel
(07/08/10 9:03am)Report
Everyone is a winner, but please don’t label me.
Todd
(07/08/10 9:47am)Report
Christina,
Your graduating class had three valedictorians who “had the same exact GPA down to the last decimal” and you wonder if test scores were taken into account?
Um, yeah. That’s kind of how they calculate a GPA.
Truthiness (@Todd)
(07/08/10 9:53am)Report
I think by test scores Christina may have meant ACT/SAT/etc.
Syndrome
(07/08/10 11:46am)Report
Everyone can be super! And when everyone’s super…
…no one will be.
Good article.
Grades are everything
(07/08/10 12:33pm)Report
A GPA should be the only factor considered. It is the only objective factor. Other activities, leadership, and volunteer work cannot be quantitatively measured. If one person has a 4.0, that person should be valedictorian. If five people have 4.0 GPAs, then all five should be valedictorians. “[but] I certainly can empathize with the student who knows for a fact they worked harder to deserve the title more than the person standing next to them.” Wow, that is quite an ignorant statement. All three individuals you mentioned has the same exact GPA. Whether or not one of those individuals worked harder is irrelevant. Different people require different amounts of effort. If someone can achieve GPA perfection while “not working as hard” as others, then more power to that person. The tile of valedictorian should be based upon merit alone.
America
(07/08/10 7:23pm)Report
mvt,
Quick note: Not sure if you’ve ever worked in Corporate America, but if you have, you know that when people are laid off it’s usually not because they weren’t doing their job well enough. Maybe the company couldn’t afford to pay them anymore; maybe there was a merger that created redundancies; maybe their boss simply didn’t like them and/or thought they were gunning for his gig. When huge companies announce that there are going to be 50,000 people laid off in the next year, it’s usually to trim GSA costs to look good to shareholders and the board (and open up the CEO for a nice bonus and more stock options), not because they had 50,000 deadbeats working for them.
Being fired is a different thing, though. That usually means you were a chronic underperformer, had extreme tardiness issues or, heck, came into work drunk out of your mind.
But, yes, not everyone can win in life.
Kristin
(07/09/10 11:28am)Report
My graduating class had seven students graduate with 4.0. Our class president was the only student who spoke at graduation. GPA alone is really the only criterion that makes sense. To add other factors (including some very subjective ones like “leadership”) would only confuse the issue. How would you weight all of those factors? Should the student with a 3.99 GPA and perfect scores on the SAT outrank a student with a 4.0 and slightly lower SAT scores? Just how many hours of community service make up for 1/10 of a grade point?
Heck, if you want to consider how hard a student worked for their GPA, take a look at the student with a learning disability who put in twice the time and effort to get a 3.5 as the genius valedictorian did to get the 4.0.
You’re right. People have to get used to disappointment. You’ll just have to be disappointed that your school had 3 students who all performed equally well on the chosen measure.
And honestly, once I got past undergraduate admissions, I have never been asked about my high school GPA or class ranking. Nobody cares if I was one of the seven with the 4.0, or if I scraped by with a 2.0. The last job I applied for, nobody asked to see transcripts or grades from high school, undergrad, or even grad school. It’s just not that important.
Student
(07/09/10 11:34am)Report
At some schools, including parochial high schools, a specific amount of time of community service and volunteering is required in order to graduate. If those students don’t have those hours in by a certain date, they cannot graduate. Some students go above and beyond the required amount and do hundreds of hours of community service (including one of my valedictorians) and the other valedictorians didn’t have nearly that amount. Now who do you think should’ve earned that spot as valedictorian, now?
re:student
(07/09/10 2:11pm)Report
The person with the highest GPA. If people want to waste their time with more than necessary volunteer work, they can. BTW, required volunteer work is not volunteer work. Thole whole point is to do it on your own, not to be told that you have to.
What's the point?
(07/10/10 12:20pm)Report
My high school didn’t rank or have a valedictorian, and it seemed like no great loss. Honestly, why does this designation even exist?
To anyone saying that the competition makes people work harder: students are going to work hard to get into a “good college” no matter what. If the only reason you’re doing well academically is to win some race to crown yourself with a pointless title, you’re in all likelihood an obnoxious bleeder who doesn’t deserve to be valedictorian anyway.
Only GPA matters
(07/10/10 8:56pm)Report
Like others before me, I agree that only GPA matters. Mind you, I was one of those people who couldn’t be a valedictorian because of one class, just one. But you know what, at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter at all. No one is going to care if you got a 4.0 or a 3.99 or a 3.5. Its not everything! Being a valedictorian isn’t everything either. Its reputation was built on the fact that the person is the smartest or the brightest person around, it wasn’t meant to be an award to the person who did the most or is the most outstanding individual.
And by the way, anyone who does community service willingly does not expect to be recognized! If all you want is recognition for your contributions, go be in an activity where everyone gets recognized – like a marathon (I heard they give everyone a medal for doing it! Fits you well, doesn’t it?).