Boulder is at it again...

[Dave_L]

http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20071114/NEWS/71114038

Let's raise some more mediocore kids. "Unhealthy competition"...give me a fuckin' break. That's how it's always been and that's the point of working hard.

[kio]

thats fuckin lame.

[john]

Man. What next? No more sex in the bathrooms?

[Deceptakhan]

Part of the pussify america program. I thought it was bad when 2 kids couldn't get into a fistfight anymore without getting expelled. And it has gotten much better, they just bring loaded guns now to settle their differences. :/

I also think its funny, cause in the real world its all about getting on top and outperforming your peers.

[kio]

I also think its funny, cause in the real world its all about getting on top and outperforming your peers.

exactly.

[jackmode9316]

I also think its funny, cause in the real world its all about getting on top and outperforming your peers.
To be Honest, even that is not really that hard.

[john]

Yeah - I do that each and every day.

[DrJones]

This article isn't a very good source for this story.

The story has two parts, which most people seem to be missing before they comment and decide it's the 'pussification' of America.

First, they are removing the awarding of 'valedictorian.' Most people read that part.

Second, they are adding a whole new system to reward students in much the way colleges do, meaning several kids get awards (I want to say top 3% and top 9% but I could be wrong).

If I had to choose, I think the 2nd system is much better than the 1st. With schools that have just one valedictorian, there isn't a lot of competition. You maybe have 2-15 people actually competing for it jr/sr years. The rest know they are out of the running, and thus, aren't pushed as hard. With the new system rewarding more top students, there will be more reason for more students to feel that 'competition' to be on top.

Now, it might be nice to reward the top student in addition to the others (ie add the 2nd part but don't get rid of the first) but IMO it's not too big of a problem. They still can get class ranks, so the top kid knows they are the top kid.

Also, I don't know about you, but I graduated in 2000 and my school had many valedictorians. Basically, everyone who had a perfect GPA was awarded the rank (I want to say there was more than 5 and less than 8). The same is true for a friend of mine from Minnesota, so I think it's a fairly widespread thing. The meaning of the title has kind of been lost over the past 10-15 years I think.

Also, not everyone is driven by that competition. My friend (same one from Minnesota) was valedictorian and couldn't of cared less about being named one. He didn't work hard to get the title, he just found school easy and got straight As. There is also the factor of extra stress placed on those who are numbers 3 & 4 and not #1. Yes, stress is part of life, and that kind of thing is good to some extent, but a lot of extra, unneeded stress can be bad to some people in that situation. Especially when the students in that situation are likely ones that are close to perfectionists and really take that kind of thing harder than they should. What about the student who feels they "need" to take some advanced subject course they aren't interested in simply because it has the potential for a higher GPA value than doing something they are really interested in building a career on, like band, art, programming, etc.?

I'm not saying we should make everything fun and happy and get rid of all stress, conflict and decision making, but kids these days have enough to worry about. I think this change has more benefits than problems.

I really don't think this is the 'death of society' that people are making it out to be. Overall, I see it as a change for the better.

[Dave_L]

I find it funny because they said there were complaints. Complaints about what? "My son didn't get valedictorian bc his gpa was .01 less than the person that won". Losing is losing. Does it suck that you lost by a tiny bit? Of course it does but that doesn't give you a right to bitch about it.

[Brandon]

It doesn't matter if you win by an inch or a mile. Winning's winning.

[subiesweetie]

It doesn't matter if you win by an inch or a mile. Winning's winning.
He almost had you! :rofl:
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc300/stew4caroline/88dae5c8-1.jpg

[FrankDMS]

well, i remember when i was in school the teacher was alowed to smack you, now god forbid you tell a kid they are stupid (because they are) and you get fired- sux for teachers now.... why would american kids work hard if it has no reward? I am old school and believe in ass whipin' and honesty... i'm sure when i have kids i will be banned from the PTA* I fkn hate BOULDER!!

[john]

Our society is in a downward spiral, and it's only going to get faster & tighter.

Every kid on the soccer team gets a trophy because they are all good. Fuck that! The winners get the trophy, the losers LEARN A FUCKING LESSON.

[brokee]

man, a lot of you guys are channeling a horrible honduran comedian here

[Deceptakhan]

Our society is in a downward spiral, and it's only going to get faster & tighter.

Every kid on the soccer team gets a trophy because they are all good. Fuck that! The winners get the trophy, the losers LEARN A FUCKING LESSON.

Amen brother.