Many of the APs at my high school effectively taught out of AP prep books that had to be bought separately. Add on the costs of the tests, which were optional but still highly encouraged, and many essentially saw the classes as costing an extra $120 or so each. They technically could take the class for nothing extra, but the implication was clear that they wouldn't do as well. Not a huge amount, but enough to break the bank for some who already had to pay for ACT/SAT tests, college applications, etc.
White student made co-valedictorian with black student, despite having lower GPA
- Thread starter Piecake
- Start date
Aztechnology
Member
Uhh we had multiple Valedictorian. I'm pretty sure you just put "Valedictorian" on your resume. Also I can't remember, do RIP scores, at least that's what we called the course rigor score factor in? Like they would take not only the GPA but the course difficult average into account. I'm not saying anything specifically. I just remember there were quite a few kids with 4.0 grades who were not Valedictorians.
KarneeKarnay
Member
I think the GPA might be an overreach, but there is definitely something screwy with the co-valedictorian.
In a school were, if the article is to be believed, has never given a co-v in it's history...
I would be pissed.
In a school were, if the article is to be believed, has never given a co-v in it's history...
I would be pissed.
reggieandTFE
Member
Valedictorian and Salutatorian were determined by the highest GPA after the 1st semester of Senior year at my high school. I had been 1st in the class since freshmen year and got straight As again the first semester of my senior year and saw my class rank fall to 2. My mom was pissed and went in to talk to the superintendent to see what happened. It turned out that the person who passed me had been given credit for a special education night class at a community college despite the fact that she shouldn't have been according to school rules. They reinstated me and I gave an awesome speech.
The funny thing is my mom is one of those 'by the book' rule followers who never challenged or complained about anything. If I got in trouble, it was always my fault. She went to bat on this for some reason.
The funny thing is my mom is one of those 'by the book' rule followers who never challenged or complained about anything. If I got in trouble, it was always my fault. She went to bat on this for some reason.
adamsappel
Member
In this moment, are you euphoric?
Tripolygon
Banned
For non US residents who don't understand the importance of GPA in the US. My college and University tuition was payed for because I had a high enough GPA. The higher it is, the more free money and scholarships you get offered by different schools and organizations. I'm not saying it is right, I'm just saying it is pretty important. My GPA dropped a few points and I lost a big chunk of free money.
GPA can mean the difference between you being in debt and graduating without any student loan.
GPA can mean the difference between you being in debt and graduating without any student loan.
Yoshi
Headmaster of Console Warrior Jugendstrafanstalt
Well, euphoric would be pushing it, but at 2:09 PM, the time you wrote the post, I had a pretty nice meal, so I was happy at least.
Regarding the facebook postings: I was halfway between shocked and amused. It is incredibly hilarious that someone would write something like this in a serious context. Since we are also on the topic of education this is extra funny to me. This kind of crazy extremist talk I haven't even seen in priests around here, so it certainly is outstanding for me.
EDIT @danhese007: Due to the extreme cost associated with education in the US, it is of course more important, relatively speaking, but in many other states, student grants are aossiciated with GPA as well. E.g. at our school in Germany, the best four students (not necessarily the ones with the best grades, the two students with best grades and two additional ones, who were selected by the headmaster by undisclosed cirteria, were selected) were suggested to the state's student grant organisation. When you get suggested, you go to a selection seminar that spans a week and if you perform well (no tests, just personal discussions and presentations, it is a personal evaluation independent of GPA or test results; they assume everyone who is there has top grades), you get a grant. However, the grant (pending a valuation after the fourth semester) then is permanent for the full studies, e.g. I only had to send them my intermediate results, but as long as I was in the top 10% of the studies (and had positive letters by professors) at the time of valuation, the grant was fixed until the end of studies.
Dude Abides
Banned
Pretty shitty if the school did this, but suing a year later is petty. Also not sure she has a claim. How was her daughter harmed?
Tripolygon
Banned
That facebook post is not extremist, it is rather the normal here. Its Jesus this and Jesus that all day everyday.
I didn't have to do any sort of those things you mentioned, i just simply had to have a GPA above 3.0 to get a decent amount of money. Students with mid 2.0s get some tuition assistance as well but the organizations that offer big money require high 3.0s. I didn't have to be recommended i just had to make an effort to apply and i got it.
Agreed, and in my opinion, if I were in this situation, I'd simply be proud my daughter achieved what she did.
Tripolygon
Banned
You don't have any idea how degrading it is to be told your best is only as good as someone else's second best even when clearly you are better, American history is rife with this when it comes to black people. She is proud of her daughter that is why i think she is doing this. As for if she is telling the truth, i don't know, only a court and people who have access to both GPA's can tell.
You don't know the first thing about my life, so why would you make such an assumption. I grew up being discriminated against, no matter how well I did with something. All the way through my 20th birthday I have had to deal with it. I lost full scholarships to the University of South Carolina (soccer) because of it. That was when I said I had to do something to change the way things were done in law enforcement so that others in my community didn't have to suffer from the things I did.
JetBlackPanda
Member
Highest GPA in your graduating class. Along with honors for clubs and sports at some schools.
It's a trophy to put on your resume and it helps with college acceptance and student loans.
They give a speech at graduation.
elrechazado
Banned
Dumb lawsuit, even if true she's not harmed
Ah ok cheers.
guggnichso
Banned
Ok, so whats the point of this lawsuit then? The girl can clearly put it on her resume, no matter if someone else can do it too? IF it turns out the other girl has indeed a lower GPA (which is hard to believe as this would be documented and easily found out if true), life will not be in any way better for the girl and her mother. Just a little bit worse for the other girl, right?
Weird stuff.
Earthstrike
Member
There needs to exist societal enforcement of anti-discrimination laws. They are a pretty important component of progress. The fact is, this school only desegregated a year ago. It's incredibly reasonable to expect pointless latent racism to still be present.
Pagusas
Elden Member
This post made me spit out my drink laughing. High school, such stupid silly drama. "Everyone was watching to see if I'd crack" lmao.
elrechazado
Banned
That didn't address whether there was harm to the plaintiff, which is a fundamental requirement.
What? Her place as valedictorian?
Don't be obtuse, her place beside a White person but never above them.
I don't know if this happened or not but if it did it's messed up.
elrechazado
Banned
Co valedictorian is a real thing. "I don't have facts but if the worst case scenario is true it's bad". Ok
Yoshi
Headmaster of Console Warrior Jugendstrafanstalt
How is this not extremist? She at the same time belittles and elevates her daughter by her talk, by making her achievements less of her achievements and more of a tool for a god, while at the same time elevating her to some sort of deity's darling. She's having a dispute over whether someone else got honours that the other person may not have had the right to get and is calling it a fight for some god and in the name of some god. How is this not extremist? What would an extremist viewpoint actually look like? If it was a muslim who was writing this, I assume a whole lot of people would be concerned it would be the next person with a bomb belt. Now, please do not misunderstand: I do not want to claim she is about to harm anyone, but this is more than just believing there is some magic earth creator, this is downright middle ages level of "everything is controlled by god". If this is standard in the US, I would certainly feel very estranged talking to people in the US.
teruterubozu
Member
Well then you will feel estranged. Tons of God/Jesus/'murica posts on Facebook as we approach 4th of July.
Tripolygon
Banned
Apologies and i'm happy for you, you overcame your obstacles and decided to change things for others. Not an excuse but it was just a general statement not directed at you personally. I suppose you do know why she would fight to make sure her daughter knows she is the best rather than just as good as second. And just to be clear, i have no idea if she is right but i understand what she is fighting for.
Tripolygon
Banned
She is belittling her daughter's achievement (not really) in the same way after a football game, they thank god for helping them win, or the same way when an actor wins an Oscar they thank god or when an artist wins a Grammy they thank god. It is something people do, does not take away from the achievement.
I wild go to the admin and see if they could get the other parents involved to show how the scores were calculated and just set it at ease, and if they refused, then go through the courts if I had serious info that leads me to believe my daughter was slighted.
No apology necessary, but appreciated.
It depends on the situation. If this school has never had a co-valedictorian before and they suddenly instituted one at the very year it would have gone to a black student for the first time, then yeah, that is incredibly suspect.
But in this case, the school is claiming that the two students had equal GPAs. That's either true, or it isn't. If the school lied about that, then they're going to pay through the nose.
And yes, racially discriminating against a student is inherently harmful, both to the student and to society.
Not necessarily, no (particularly since, one imagines, the method of calculation has been different over the years).
elrechazado
Banned
Pay through the nose based on what theory of damages? Pay what?
No. Salutatorian is 2nd highest.
That does raise some questions...
Wafflecakes
Member
I am not sure even that is enough. FERPA is pretty strong about not sharing academic info without permission.
I doubt an angry mom is a good enough reason to pierce FERPA's privacy rules.
My guess is the case gets thrown out due to lack of evidence. All the lady seems to have is anecdotes that her daughter had a higher GPA.
Miles Quaritch
Member
Not releasing the grades after this much publicity just confirms the story.
No reason to hide your grades if you were just as good, you should put that out there and let everyone know you were co-valedictorian because you earned it, not because the racist ass school couldn't stomach a black girl taking the spot.
No reason to hide your grades if you were just as good, you should put that out there and let everyone know you were co-valedictorian because you earned it, not because the racist ass school couldn't stomach a black girl taking the spot.
That's a BS line. Just because I didn't do anything wrong or something is legit, doesn't mean I should give up my right to privacy because someone is bitter. Let the court subpoena the records.
Guilty until proven innocent, eh?
Miles Quaritch
Member
This didn't happen in a vacuum. First time there's a black girl at the top and they have their first ever co-valedictorian?
In a school that has a troubled history with integration?
Isn't that the American way?
This reminds me of how in the Apprentice the only time Trump ever asked the winner if they were willing to share the prize was when a black man won it.
Wafflecakes
Member
No it doesn't. Not even a little.
The school CANNOT legally release the grades without the permission of the student, and the other student has moved on with their life and probably isn't inclined to get involved.
elrechazado
Banned
Let's not let facts get in the way of the fact free hot takes.
Miles Quaritch
Member
I was referring to the student, who will have heard about what's happening.
If she refuses to release her grades, doesn't paint a very good picture about her or the school.
Why in the hell would she? There's absolutely no benefit to her.
People's existences are not about appeasing internet mobs.
Also interesting to hear about how many people knew everyone else's grades. At our school no one much cared, I guess because it was such a good school overall. I don't even remember who gave our speech.
Wafflecakes
Member
Why should she give a shit?
If she states her grades and they are equal or higher she will be called a liar. If she then releases a detailed breakdown her grades will be ripped to shreds for taking easier classes or some other BS.
If she states her grades and they are lower she will be called a fraud.
I wouldn't touch that shit with a 10 foot pole.
It is the job of the accuser to prove their case. Not the other girl.
The Cowboy
Member
She has done nothing wrong, and frankly with the media attention (and the internet mob the way it is) - i wouldn't blame her for staying well out of it.
Also you pretty much know if she did and the grade was different SHE would likely be harassed no end over it (despite her not giving herself the grade), and if the grade is infact the same people will claim the grade was changed or rip it to shreds.
I sure as hell wouldn't get myself involved, not with the way things our nowadays.
Wafflecakes
Member
Yup. This would be the INSTANT response to a release of grades.
"Well the school changed the grades because racism!"
...which may or may not be true, but is unverifiable at this point and is 100% not the other girls fault.
Hickbilly Deluxe
Banned
Why, because she values her privacy and the school doesn't feel like openly violating the law?
Similar threads
- Poll