Why Valedictorian Policy Is Outdated

In your June 20 editorial regarding valedictorians (“ ‘Self-Esteem’ Run Amok”), you claim that it is foolish for some schools to not appoint valedictorians at all.

I think you are wrong. At the school I just graduated from, we don’t have a valedictorian. The reason is that my school is very small, as is the range of classes available, and the difference between being No. 1 and No. 4 could be one A- earned in one class, even though both students pursued the same schedule. I think it would be silly to reward one of the students and not the other in such a situation.

Also, what grades a student makes says very little about what sort of person she or he is; it says how well they can memorize. We do, however, have a final award that is made for the student who not only has a high grade-point average but also completes an exemplary amount of community service, demonstrates leadership and is an all-around good person. (And no, I wasn’t the person who won the award, nor was I ranked No. 4. We don’t rank).

If valedictorian were based on all three categories, then I could see your argument for keeping the one valedictorian tradition going. As it is, I am glad the concept is being deconstructed.

SARAH PALERMO

Connelly School, Anaheim