Remember when graduating as the class valedictorian was a special achievement for the one outstanding student in your class? Can it still be considered that if there are 222 valedictorians?
Dublin, Ohio, has three high schools which boasted 222 valedictorians combined this year. Dublin Scioto had 44 valedictorians, Dublin Jerome had 82, and Dublin Coffman had 96. How is it possible for 96 students to be exactly equal in achievement? I can see maybe two or three, but not 96. Doesn’t this minimize the achievement and honor of being named valedictorian?
Dublin’s high schools had offered only one student the title of valedictorian until 2008, when officials changed the rules to help more students become eligible for college scholarships linked to valedictorian status.
The valedictorian was once the single highest-performing graduate — and some districts, such as Hilliard and South-Western, still adhere to the practice. But experts say it’s more typical to see multiple valedictorians or none at all as educators try eliminate the competition among students to be No. 1 of their class.
Experts. Like Mark Raiff, the district’s chief academic officer, who said he is wary of a system that recognizes one student as valedictorian, which can create a “hypercompetitive environment that’s not healthy for kids.” Oh ree-heel-ly. Competitiveness is bad. Tell that to the football team. Tell that to these students when they are out in the real world competing for a job. Let’s not encourage people who earn the the title of valedictorian to earn the scholarships. Make everyone a special #1 snowflake who can’t handle failure.
File this one under “The Dumz.”
