Student Denied Valedictorian Title

[virgovictoria]

Anorexic student denied valedictorian title

Absentee record for treatment negates academic record

Karen Scherr is the top academic student in her class at Kingwood High School in the Houston area, and she has been for the past four years.



But when the 18-year-old receives her diploma this month, she’ll do so without the title just about everyone expected her to have: valedictorian.

Kingwood High school has handed that honor to another student, saying Scherr doesn’t qualify for the award.

“I was disappointed,” said Scherr. “I’d hoped the rule would not have to be enforced.”

Attendance record negates academic record
Scherr was referring to a requirement that the school’s valedictorian be enrolled in classes by the 20th day of their junior year.

It’s a rule aimed at keeping students from other schools from transferring into Kingwood late in their high school careers to claim one of the coveted top 10 academic spots.

Scherr’s been in the Kingwood school system since kindergarten. But she wasn’t enrolled in her high school on that 20th day of her junior year.

Instead, she was in a treatment facility seeking help for the eating disorder, anorexia nervosa.

“I was sick. That’s part of the disorder,” said Scherr. “It’s a mental disease.”

While the school warned the Scherr family of their strict attendance policy, her parents made the decision to keep her hospitalized in Oklahoma until her medical treatment was complete a few weeks later.

Through it all, she kept up her class work and stayed at the top of her class despite her illness.

“She has a disease,” said Travis Boeker, a fellow student. “If it was cancer, this wouldn’t be an issue.”

“She was able to maintain her grades and still stay ahead of the class during a very difficult personal time,” said student Addison Beard. “The title belongs to her.”

:shrug: What say you???

Scherr of herself and of not getting the title:

More important than the trophy, the teen says, her self-esteem is intact.

“That’s more important than any achievement or any title you could ever get,” Scherr said. “I’m thankful I’ve learned that at this point in my life, at 18 years old.”

I say, and you go gurl!

 

[vraiblonde]

“I’d hoped the rule would not have to be enforced.”

Don't we all?

What about the student who DID make valedictorian, who worked just as hard but didn't succumb to some retarded eating disorder and miss 6 weeks of school?

The good news is it appears she's overcome her anorexia quite nicely.

 

[vraiblonde]

And along those same lines:


Pregnant grad defies ban from ceremony

 

[czygvtwkr]

Who cares, the high school I went to had 10 valedictorians and 12 salutorians just so they wouldn't hurt anyones feelings (my graduating class was only 160 btw). The 10 valedictorians did all have 4.0's but there was a little help along the way for the "golden ones"

 

[virgovictoria]

What about the student who DID make valedictorian, who worked just as hard but didn't succumb to some retarded eating disorder and miss 6 weeks of school?

Actually, he was termed THE NUMBER TWO STUDENT:

Despite student petitions and pleas from students on the Top 10 list at Kingwood High, school officials said the title instead would go to the number two student, Alex Gorham.

And, although I admire and respect you Vrai, I'll leave alone the "succumb to a retarded eating disorder" statement, chalking it up to the IQ points matching the hair color theory...

 

[Ken King]

Actually, he was termed THE NUMBER TWO STUDENT:


And, although I admire and respect you Vrai, I'll leave alone the "succumb to a retarded eating disorder" statement, chalking it up to the IQ points matching the hair color theory...

That student might have been number two on the list of academic achievement but they were number one on the list of meeting the entire requirement list necessary to be given the title.

 

[virgovictoria]

That student might have been number two on the list of academic achievement but they were number one on the list of meeting the entire requirement list necessary to be given the title.

Agreed. Total points to chalk, per se, for rights to deliver the farewell...

but nonetheless, a story I wanted to share.

 

[vraiblonde]

I'll leave alone the "succumb to a retarded eating disorder" statement, chalking it up to the IQ points matching the hair color theory...

Some high school kid losing valedictorian status isn't interesting. Eating disorders are interesting - let's talk about that instead.

 

[virgovictoria]

Some high school kid losing valedictorian status isn't interesting. Eating disorders are interesting - let's talk about that instead.

As a topic, yeah, I would agree, eating disorders are interesting

 

[Larry Gude]

Ditto...

Don't we all?

What about the student who DID make valedictorian, who worked just as hard but didn't succumb to some retarded eating disorder and miss 6 weeks of school?

The good news is it appears she's overcome her anorexia quite nicely.

A simple DITTO will suffice.

 

[aps45819]

Eating disorders are interesting - let's talk about that instead.

It's very inexpensive to take an anexoric out to dinner

 

[virgovictoria]

It's very inexpensive to take an anexoric out to dinner

Ah, but a bulimic on the other hand....

 

[RoseRed]

And along those same lines:


Pregnant grad defies ban from ceremony

The father of Cosby’s child, also a senior at the school, was allowed to participate in graduation.

Double standard?

 

[aps45819]

Ah, but a bulimic on the other hand....

That would pizz me off.
Like taking someone to an all you can eat buffet and they only eat a small salad.

 

[virgovictoria]

Double standard?

My thoughts...

But then, I thought it was pretty cool that an 18 year old kept a 4.0, submitted all of her academic coursework on time, kept her attendence to par save for a time she was recieving voluntary treatment for a life threatening disease (that could plague her every stressful situation, body image and meal) and kept her head through it all despite being denied an honor most students her age would be devestated by - AND came to the realization that her life and self esteem are more important.

:shrug: but, what do I know...

 

[kwillia]

My thoughts...

But then, I thought it was pretty cool that an 18 year old kept a 4.0, submitted all of her academic coursework on time, kept her attendence to par save for a time she was recieving voluntary treatment for a life threatening disease (that could plague her every stressful situation, body image and meal) and kept her head through it all despite being denied an honor most students her age would be devestated by - AND came to the realization that her life and self esteem are more important.

:shrug: but, what do I know...

I hear ya and agree she made major strides in life despite her mental issues, however, I still find myself siding with those that say she didn't meet 'all' criteria...

 

[willie]

My thoughts...

But then, I thought it was pretty cool that an 18 year old kept a 4.0, submitted all of her academic coursework on time, kept her attendence to par save for a time she was recieving voluntary treatment for a life threatening disease (that could plague her every stressful situation, body image and meal) and kept her head through it all despite being denied an honor most students her age would be devestated by - AND came to the realization that her life and self esteem are more important.

:shrug: but, what do I know...

Everyone, including the School Board, handled this with class.

 

[virgovictoria]

I hear ya and agree she made major strides in life despite her mental issues, however, I still find myself siding with those that say she didn't meet 'all' criteria...

I don't disagree that she didn't meet the criteria... I am admiring her strength and the head that she has on her shoulders. And her acknowledgement that attending to her disease was her priority.. That really was my point.