An End to Valedictorians, Salutatorians? [POLL]

Who's Number 1? At many high schools, it's becoming hard to tell.

When the Class of 2012 graduates tonight, there won't be a valedictorian or a salutatorian on hand to give a speech. Instead, the talk will be delivered by class president Gabrielle Peterson.

According to Maryann Wasko, executive secretary at the high school, MHS hasn't had a valedictorian or a salutatorian for as long as she can remember.

"For some reason we don’t acknowledge the first and second place students with those titles," she said.

Not only Montclair High School, but many high schools across New Jersey and the United States have done away with the valedictorian-salutatorian system. Administrators often are choosing instead to honor multiple students at the top of each class. 

In Princeton, for example, there are three student-selected speakers instead of a valedictorian and a salutatorian. Schools elsewhere, such as one in Basking Ridge, ask the class presidents to speak.

But at the same time high schools in Clark, Cranford, West Orange, and in many other cities still retain the valedictorian-salutatorian titles.

And NorthJersey.com published a whole spread this week on the region's valedictorians and salutatorians.

"I didn't even realize there was no valedictorian or salutatorian in Montclair," said resident Sue Mallory. "I always thought it was a nice honor. I don't know why we don't have it."

Across the country, though, many educators argue that the titles—traditionally reserved for the students with the highest and second-highest grade-point averages—are motivational to very few students.

Although there is little official data, the changes seem to reflect a trend across the United States, David Hawkins, director of public policy and research for the National Association for College Admission Counseling, recently told The Republic in Arizona.

"More high schools are certainly moving away from the process of designating a single student as valedictorian," Hawkins said. "Based on the classes you take, it's very difficult to decide with certainty that one student is the best student ... It's becoming an increasingly outdated honorific."

In addition, many argue that college admissions offices are looking at extracurricular activities and other factors more than they are designations such as valedictorian or salutatorian.

But many parents feel sorry that their hard-working children will miss out on the opportunity to receive a designation that, to them, still carries a certain cachet.

Nevertheless, the elimination of the valedictorian-salutatorian designations may be something that people will simply have to get used to.

No doubt, a lot of the customs of prior years are becoming a thing of the past. As one parent noted, Montclair High School no longer has a homecoming dance either.

So what do you think? Do you think each graduating class should have a valedictorian and a salutatorian? Take our poll and let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

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