Just because you and someone else reach the same conclusion, doesn’t mean the journey was equal. There’s a reason why Rags to Riches stories carry more weight than say…those of Paris Hilton or Donald Trump.
I’m sure the kids from privileged backgrounds aren’t griping that they aren’t being treated equally to those kids from harsher schools that find a way to reach the same level of success. Even merit isn’t objective…
Hey @californiaaa Did you notice the teacher is Asian? Did you notice the kid is half Asian? Why don’t you acknowledge that? Are they not your kind of Asian? Is that your problem with this story?
Because Yom and the school’s achievements in the face of staggeringly low academic expectations are the main story – and Cedrick happens to be the cherry on top. What is so difficult to understand?
If this is such an injustice, go find the other eleven and put out a press release. It’s clear that the local reporter wanted to highlight this wonderful local story – and it was picked up. The local reporter had no obligation to find the other eleven. That’d be absurd.
<did you="" notice="" the="" teacher="" is="" asian?="" did="" kid="" half="">
I live long enough to notice, that politically correct people don’t really care about nuances. Cedrick has Hispanic last name, he looks Hispanic, Latino immigrant from disadvantaged neighborhood. Bingo, for progressives. National story, tweets from the President.
Personally, I feel sorry for Cedrick. He deserves congratulations for his mathematical prowess, not for his “life story narrative”.
His community deserves to hear about a local kid and school and teacher who are doing remarkably well. Politically correct? SMH
Why are you saying this is political? If Mr. McCain or Mr. Romney were in the White house, this kind of story would also be on the White house’s radar. Any politician, right or left would love to associate with this kind of success story.
<because yom="" and="" the="" school’s="" achievements="" in="" face="" of="" staggeringly="" low="" academic="" expectations="" are="" main="" story="" --="" cedrick="" happens="" to="" be="" cherry="" on="" top.="" what="" is="" so="" difficult="" understand?="">
OK, now I see your point! I read the story from a different perspective - great achievement of Cedrick (and other no-name 11 students). Hooray, kids !!! You did great !
<school’s achievements="" in="" the="" face="" of="" staggeringly="" low="" academic="" expectations=""> - I always forget about the “low academic expectation” part :). I mean, teachers have great salaries at LA school district. Why can’t they just work, like everyone else? </school’s>
One can argue that, for a given level of achievement (e.g. perfect score on an AP test), one who achieves it from a disadvantaged starting point (e.g. first generation low SES student in a low performing high school with low quality prerequisite courses to the AP course in question) is more meritous in that area then one who achieves it from an advantaged starting point (e.g. student with high SES high educational attainment parents in a high performing high school).
@californiaaa Why do you assume the other 11 are Asian? You don’t know that.
You think Cedrick looks Hispanic. I don’t.
You don’t believe that the Asian teacher should be praised for his hard work. Make up your mind.
I think that Cedrick and his teacher deserve congratulations. By singling Cedrick out of other 11 winners, the reporter is making him a huge disservice. The report becomes about “poor Latino immigrant” instead of “smart student with great potential”.
Yes, it is very strange to write a story about 12 winners and mention only one child by name. Typically, all names of all winners are mentioned.
@californiaaa
For the millionth time, the story isn’t about the 12 winners, it’s about the group of students from Lincoln High School and their teacher. One of the students from the school happened to be one of the 12 students worldwide to get a perfect score on the Calc BC exam, therefore, he was mentioned.
<one can="" argue="" that,="" for="" a="" given="" level="" of="" achievement="" (e.g.="" perfect="" score="" on="" an="" ap="" test),="" one="" who="" achieves="" it="" from="" disadvantaged="" starting="" point="" first="" generation="" low="" ses="" student="" in="" performing="" high="" school="" with="" quality="" prerequisite="" courses="" to="" the="" course="" question)="" is="" more="" meritous="" that="" area="" then="" advantaged="" educational="" attainment="" parents="" school).="">
Perfect score on AP Calculus is THE ACHIEVEMENT. No need for qualifiers, like “he is from a poor family”.
Imagine a Nobel Price winner, who says that “my Nobel Price is more meritous than the other Nobel Prices, because I come from low SES”. It would be ridiculous.
45% of the students that take the Calc BC exam get a 5…
@soccerguy315 That doesn’t mean the test is easy. How many people take Calc BC? What is that as a percentage of high school seniors?
<45% of the students that take the Calc BC exam get a 5… >
It is not just “5”. Cedrick (and 11 others) got ALL questions right.
As of 2013, Lincoln High School in Los Angeles was 100% SES-disadvantaged, ~73% Latino, ~26% Asian (not including Filipino, reported separately), and 1% all others. Performance on state tests resembled common racial stereotypes.
http://api.cde.ca.gov/Acnt2014/apiavgSch.aspx?allcds=19647331935121
@californiaaa the reporter did not single out Cedrick. The other students’ schools did not issue press releases about them. Big difference. Scores and names are not publicly available until the student agrees to make them public. The reports could not have found Cedric on her own.
Did you read the story? It is not about 12 winners. Read the story.
I think you are the only one who doesn’t think it is. I am sad for you.
@californiaa, some schools don’t release academic info on their kids. Or local media isn’t interested in picking it up. In our area, neither the school nor the media publicize the names of National merit scholars. Should I be outraged that newspapers from other areas didn’t include my kid in their coverage of their local educational news?
Did you read the article? What was the point of the article? Who was the audience for the article? Have you discovered why the reporter did not want to/see the need to hunt down the identities of the other eleven perfect scorers yet? Then try harder.