Hey Disgusting - Guess what? When you go before the School Committee or in any public forum, you are asking for the public's attention and input. If you don't like what you hear, that is on you. Your little bubble or "paradigm" or perspective or planet is not the only one. Entitled much? Everyone must agree with you? To disagree is "disgusting?"
As for the "mixup" with guidance, things like this happen in the Melrose system all the time. Is it worth going public? No. Also, why would this student (mother) assume she would be valedictorian? The top 10/11 switch rankings every quarter since the mathematical difference between them is so small. GUidance, which admittedly messes up all the time, in this situation was correct. You cannot and should not ASSUME you will be valedictorian until the end. This situation is a display of entitlement. Your wonderful daughter got into Harvard, she was recognized with only 10 others at the graduation for her GPA, and she gave the Academic excellence speech, and yet you still choose to complain publicly? You are so incensed that you are tearful?
You may think that you are justified given the few who post on social media who know nothing about the situation or based on the news story (which was totally misleading), but there are many who disagree but are polite enough or just don't care enough to speak out.
DIsgusting, Mispronounced name is something to complain about? I was at graduation and don't remember her name being mispronounced. Her father teaches at the high school so they know her last name. They said her name many times because she was recognized many times. Everybody there knows and knew her name.
More importantly, where is the outrage for the mispronunciation of the last name of the boy who passed?
As for awards night, those awards include all levels of classes. So maybe the kids in the honors level or cp classes did exceptional work in a particular subject. What's wrong with that? It is not all about your kid. She didn't have to get MVP repeatedly for every subject too. In the real world, one kid is not entitled to dominate and get mvp for everything. There are other exceptional students and they deserve recognition too.
So funny - Disgusting was right. Apparently if you graduate from Melrose HS and(WOW!)get into Harvard (OMG Harvard!!!) then the clowns on Messages don't think you have a right to complain. Well luckily Ms.C will get the last laugh when she checks into her dorm room in Cambridge. But definitely keep up the good work you are doing anonymously here. LOL.
No one said she doesn't have a right to complain. Some people just think her complaints are not totally valid in this case. Sounds like you have a different viewpoint. Fine - then discuss the specifics rather than making generalizations about the people who disagree with you.
Two things are happening at the same time here. First, the MHS administration screwed the "valedictorian" issue up. This whole thing should have been settled, put in writing, and delivered to students and parents the first day of school last September. However they waited until the last minute after spending 10 months sending mixed messages to 17 year old kids. The kid who delivered the academic address was treated poorly by adults at MHS. You need to look no further at their accompanying screw up on Senior awards night. What rational person would think that the Number 1 student in the class, whether publicly acknowledged or not, going to Harvard, shouldn't be recognized at senior night for her academic achievement. They hand out dozens of awards, but miss this kid. The MHS admin should be embarrassed. The second issue is the typical Melrose Messages loser mentality coming from the posters that are criticizing this kid and her family. You losers will complain about anything. The kid was treated poorly and her mother spoke up for her, publicly, something you cowards can't actually do yourselves. Hopefully MHS can make sure it doesn't happen again.
Incessant, always funny when a poster complains about anonymity while remaining anonymous themselves. There were a number of top students who did not get academic awards that night. Not just hers. Many of the top 11 also did not get awards. Again, that night is for achievement in all levels. They want the kids who did not get recognition by getting into top colleges to be recognized as well. But go ahead and feel you were the only one wronged. There are plenty of hurt feelings when awards go out. That's life. Mommy can't always call and make it better, although in this case, she certainly tried and now feels doubly wronged because the whole world doesn't feel like her kid is so special that the wrong must be publicized. Where are you Mom when kids are being brutalized by racism and bullying? Those types of issues didn't get your attention to speak up publicly. Notably the responders here never address the facts that were pointed out like she did get recognized for her GPA. You have one whine and facts to the contrary will not change it. You are entitled to your own opinion but not allowed to ignore facts and remain justified.
All they would have had to do is tell the student and her parent, "Look, we made a mistake, and failed to communicate this properly to students and families. I am so sorry this misunderstanding has caused your daughter to feel unacknowledged. Because this was our mistake, we will make sure she is recognized at graduation and allowed to give a speech, regardless of what the official policy is. In the future, we will do a much better job communicating major school policy changes."
They could have acknowledged their mistake, diffused the situation, apologized for the confusion and upset, and everyone would have moved on. But they are all more worried about their resumes than they are about actual students.
And if this is the way they treat their top students, imagine how the average student is treated when they have an issue, academic or otherwise.
I'm happy to see someone speak up in public on the record.
Someone who doesn't work for the city such as apologist Martha Grover or attempt to ram increased taxes on people such as hack Jen McAndrew.
If this community were used to open dialogue, no one would pay this woman any attention. You can agree or disagree with her but she shouldn't be notable because of speaking up.
Speaking of public comment, I noticed that this woman was granted over six minutes before she was granted even more time from the chair of anti-public participation and anti-transparency, Margaret Driscoll. Shouldn't all public participants receive the same treatment that Mr. Mroz receives? 4 minutes and 59 seconds with an immediate shout-down and gavel barrage from "Ms. Taking Tokes in Melrose"? Why is he treated any differently simply because he speaks some hard truths? Perhaps someone on the committee can explain to her that she is not permitted to treat various public participants any differently from the other?[:-?]
NO
Does anyone actually like Margaret Driscoll? Or respect her?
She's a crazy power monger who pretends to know much more than she does. She's transparent though and it would seem that even if you sat on the SC with her, she'd make your skin crawl.
Oh you mean the "real" or "nascent" SCIENTIST (always all in caps as far as she's concerned!)?
It's a total bunch of jokers, top to bottom, including the Nervous Nodder Newbie who must always nod her approval of absolutely EVERYTHING that any of her esteemed colleagues are babbling about ad nauseum, Eddie Easy Time Parolee, the Bloviating Boss Man, Intentional Jess (Cyndy's Bloviating Bestie), Scary Yoga Pants "Cazzatelli" (to hear Madge say it), Moonbat Madge and her Singing Angels.
Then again, the BOA are really no better. Is this really the best that Melrose can come up with?
Liz is more attractive. She could drop the scientist routine but 'education expert' is already taken. Sour puss Dugan & that bobble head Grande need no comment except that they're there to further themselves personally. Incomprehensible is the felon. The elected felon.
And the BOA as written above is no better.