Congratulations on Your Grade-Point Average by Dr. Robert Wallace on Creators.com

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Congratulations on Your Grade-Point Average

DR. WALLACE: I will be graduating from high school in less than a month. I'm a very good student and have been accepted at Yale University. I will be attending Yale in September.

But I feel very disappointed that I was not selected as the valedictorian of my graduating class. Ever since I entered high school, I have taken college prep classes. They include calculus, trigonometry, advanced chemistry, Spanish I, II and III, creative writing and the works of Shakespeare, just to name a few. I have received all A's except for one little C+ in geography.

The boy who is our valedictorian received A's in all of his high school classes. But he didn't take difficult college prep courses. His courses were less strenuous.

I will give him credit for getting all A's. That was a wonderful feat, but in no way does it compare to what I have accomplished.

My parents went to see the principal, who agreed that I took the more difficult classes but said the rule for our school states that the senior with the highest high school grade-point average would be the valedictorian. I feel like I was robbed of a very important honor. Do you agree? —Nameless, Philadelphia, Pa.

NAMELESS: It won't help now, but I agree that more difficult classes should have more impact when selecting a valedictorian. I'm in favor of a point system in which classes are "weighted" according to their difficulty. It would take a little time to evaluate every class the high school offers, but doing so would create a fairer method of establishing class rank.

For example, an advanced calculus class would be worth 10 points for an A, eight points for a B and six points for a C.

A general math class would have a maximum of six points for an A, four points for a B and two points for a C. Once the point system is in place, and all the parents and students have access to the weighted points given to each class, the selection of a valedictorian would be simplified.

Even though you were not the class valedictorian, Yale University is well aware of your high school transcript and the challenging courses you took. And I'm sure your parents are very proud of you.

Congratulations on a spectacular grade-point average. You are a gifted student and I'm positive your academic accomplishments are just beginning.

IS IT OK TO REST YOUR ELBOWS ON THE TABLE?

DR. WALLACE: Our home economics teacher asked that I write to you to settle the "debate" in our class. Is it OK to rest your elbows on the dinner table during a meal? About half of the class says, "No." The rest of the class says, "Yes." We await your answer. —Karen, Chicago, Ill.

KAREN: I went to the owner of an "upscale" restaurant in Saint John, Ind., to settle your class debate. This was his answer:

"Contrary to what many people think, it is OK to rest your elbows on the table — but only when you're not actually eating. While eating, your free hand should rest on your lap."

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. Email him at rwallace@galesburg.net. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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LW1: Yeah, there are many things in life that aren't fair, and I'd say this is one of them. Maturity is about the ability to recognize which battles are worth fighting and which are best let go.

My advice: Congratulate the new valedictorian wholeheartedly (this is not his fault). Recognize that admission to Yale, and the opportunity that represents, are your REAL reward for the years of study and challenging courses.

Once you're able to let go of the idea of giving the valedictory address at your graduation, sincerely, you'll be ready to take the next step: working to change the method of selecting the valedictorian for NEXT year's graduating class and beyond. Do this privately -- via email to the principal and guidance department, by talking with members of the junior class in student government -- all with the attitude of "weighted GPAs encourage students to challenge themselves, and contribute to the reputation of our school as a place where excellence is sought at every level. We want to reward students for taking the rigorous classes, rather than skate by on those less challenging ones."

You'll earn the satisfactio of having helped students who come after you, and it therefore won't look (or be!) self-serving.

Comment: #1
Posted by: hedgehog
Fri May 10, 2013 4:58 AM

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LW1: In addition to what hedgehog states in her first two sentences, perhaps there's a number of other ways you can get your message out to advise your classmates.

If you live in a community with a small-town newspaper, perhaps you can write a guest column or a letter to the editor. Even your school newspaper might be a good venue to share your philosophy and wishing them good luck in the near future. It need not be a graduation speech.

As far as sharing your ideas for changing the valedictory address and who is so honored ... yeah, start with the principal and guidance department, the new senior class officers, etc. This typically will move at some point to the school board, especially if they want to comment or need to give their approval. But yes, I do think changing the process to reward hard work in difficult classes is an excellent idea.

And do keep in mind – the valedictorian deserves the benefit of the doubt. Without knowing exactly which classes he took, I'll say he took ones that were challenging enough, and that he worked just as hard as you did.

LW2: I'd say this applies more when your out to eat. If this is your own private home, at a buddy's house, etc. ... while it may be a good idea to practice good manners, people are splitting hairs if they complain about resting their arms on the table during a meal.

Comment: #2
Posted by: Bobaloo
Fri May 10, 2013 9:31 AM

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LW1: I hope you will very quickly reach a point at YALE when you realize that you no longer need to capture every prize.

Adults aren't as interested in grades when you are out in the world. In a very few years, if you find yourself still carrying on about this slight, you'll start to notice people looking at you like they want to know why you still care so much. In fact, your first day of college should persuade you that you already have other, more important things to think about.

Focus on what you hope to achieve in terms of learning at college and drop this petty obsession with the valedictorian award. To people who didn't get into Yale, you're looking a little greedy and ungrateful. I'm sure that isn't really the case.

In the meantime, consider the system. Going by straight GPA, it's true that a student could skate through easier courses and end up with better grades than a student who challenges himself. Consider that no matter how these things are judged, students will find a way to take advantage of it. I hope you will find a way to take advantage of the privileges you have been given and move on from this. Congratulations, by the way.

Comment: #3
Posted by: LouisaFinnell
Fri May 10, 2013 11:15 AM

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LW1--Sweetie, you seem too preoccupied with your GPA and what it means to be Valedictorian. That your parents actually approached the Principal of your school to try to wrangle the title from another student is beyond stupid. Please allow me to be the first to inform you that the rest of the world couldn't care less what your high school GPA is or was. Ten years from now it will make little, if any difference to anyone much less employers. Similarly, for the record, either will your college GPA. As someone who has hired many people for a highly technical field, I can report that from my experience, those who held high GPAs and could memorize facts and figures sufficiently to ace written tests were incredibly inept at applying their apparent knowledge in ways that were useful in solving real world problems. So what does this mean? It means that you won't have to stand before your class and give a stupid, condescending speech about conquering the world or some other nonsense. Be grateful that you were accepted to a good school like Yale where you will make excellent contacts and leverage the perceived pedigree an ivy league school provides to land a high paying job somewhere. In the meantime, stop obsessing over a title that is practically meaningless.

LW2--I'm sorry but you're evidently associating with idiots. When you're hungry, it doesn't matter one whit how you arrange your limbs while you eat. Do whatever you feel comfortable with and tell anyone who objects to get a frigging life!

Comment: #4
Posted by: Chris
Fri May 10, 2013 3:32 PM

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Congratulations on Your Grade-Point Average

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