<p>organizing a voter registration drive on a high school campus is a pretty common activity. many kids have had this ‘idea’. it isn’t anything extraordinary.</p>
<p>^Nobody needs to have anything extraordinary, very common activities are just fine, as long as kid is enjoying them. Otherwise, they are not worth it to spend one minute on them, getting your resume padded is not a good reason for wasting precious time.</p>
<p>Sorry it doesn’t meet your high standards calimami…I thought it was pretty cool.</p>
<p>Thanks, rhumbob–I was excited by her enthusiasm, too. She had a fantastic APUSH teacher who lit a fire in her, last year, and she recently read about how some states’ new voting regulations are akin to old Jim Crow laws. She immediately decided it was time to make sure kids her age were voting, regardless of party affiliation. </p>
<p>Her problem at school is that she’s on the “fringe.” She’s very creative, but she’s been marginalized and not taken seriously by the other AP kids because she’s only a B+ student (3.7 weighted…not that impressive at her school). She didn’t win when she ran for class office, and unfortunately this won’t be the first time that her ideas have to be filtered through other students because she lacks credibility among her peers. Some of it is because she didn’t enter until high school…don’t get me started. The EC’s weren’t even part of the equation, as I said earlier (mathmom–CA is done because she’s applying ED. Her EC’s really are fine, for the school she wants. Anyway, this project won’t be anywhere near complete by November). Maybe this will be a valuable life lesson…but most importantly, she’ll hopefully accomplish the goal of getting these kids set up for the primary.</p>
<p>BTW, Fireandrain, I DID catch Community on TIVO after my original post-- it was pretty ironic timing! It’s her favorite show, too, but she hasn’t seen the episode yet. I’m sure she’ll crack up!</p>
<p>It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.
—Harry Truman</p>
<p>I agree with Bogney’s 3 posts. It would be good, over time, if possible, to find out if there was indeed a misunderstanding and the president thought she was asking him to implement her idea. Nevertheless, it does sound like he took credit, and perhaps the original poster’s daughter can find a way at some point, to talk with him about it.</p>
<p>I would also say that by deferring to him for implementation, she may have ceded a chance for leadership of the drive. That may be fine. One of my kids would hate to manage a voter drive, and another one would love it.</p>
<p>It’s great she conceived of it, regardless of who implements. But the president seems to have some character flaws, and he will benefit from them being pointed out, in a way that is palatable and therefore effective.</p>
<p>It sounds like a pretty unhealthy environment to me, and the values of that environment certainly seem to be driving the president. Congratulations on raising a daughter who has avoided the worst effects, in terms of character, though I am hearing that she feels inferior due to her (very good) GPA, which is really a shame.</p>
<p>It is so interesting how people have responded to this situation.
I am not OK with it, I think the young woman should have acknowlegement, even if informal, for her idea. I am not “uptight” about always getting “credit” for things, just have a sense of right and wrong.
True story, though: I had a great idea (as a young working person) that got circulated amongst about 5 people, and finally my then boss told me it had been proposed as something I should do, and I spoke right up and calmly said I originated the idea - I noted the (other) person I had initially discussed the idea with. There was no big hassle, but a tiny amusement between me and my then boss (since someone else had attempted to claim it as his idea in a minor way).
This story here does remind me that maybe EC’s and their listings/comumenting for apps are getting a bit silly at times. Over obsession with putting together a paper record.
That STILL doesn’t make it right what this “prez” did.</p>
<p>sorry for typo, I meant “DOCUMENTING” for apps</p>
<p>njres - You do see the irony of attributing the quote, “It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit,” right? You have made my point about the value of proper attribution.</p>
<p>In a non-competitive environment where people work collectively for the common good, I might agree with the quote, and when it comes to finding a cure for cancer and things of that nature, I am all for collaboration without grandstanding or profiteering. However, for better or worse, we live in a competitive environment where people tend to look after their own interests first. The only thing that keeps that from devolving into chaos are laws and some semblance of honor and playing by the rules. If the sense of honor is displaced by pure self-interested manipulation, we will face third world type corruption.</p>
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<p>Actually, for most high school stuff, the credit is what matters.</p>
<p>Mothtek-- You are describing my daughter as well as some of the noxious situations that have happened with other people taking her ideas repeatedly throughout her time in student government. Unfortunately, it has happened enough that it can not be attributed to a misunderstanding, though hope in your daughter’s case, that it is, for the sake of her friendship. The high-B, low-A student can be marginalized in certain, high-powered peer groups. It is quite painful, though I do see my daughter, and it sounds like yours, as people who want to move an idea to completion, of course would like credit, but are more concerned with its movement from conceptualization to completion. They will do fine in life. The work world, at times, can mirror high-school, so some of the skills they learn now (such as how to kindly bringing this up with the friend or mentioning to teacher in an oblique way) can serve them well later. Often in life, we need to do the right thing, even if someone else gets the credit, or if no one gets credit. The kids who learn this early may be at an advantage in some ways over those kids who feel that they need to get constant reinforcement of their efforts and ideas. We all know that is not how life is in adulthood! Take care and happy Rosh Hashanah (sp?)</p>
<p>My husb used to have a boss who would swipe his subordinates’ ideas and go to management claiming they had been his own.</p>
<p>He is not there any more.</p>
<p>I think it is the sign of the times. I think there is too much competition and each vying for him/herself has replaced true friendship.</p>
<p>The class president’s action is intellectual theft, but compared to our class president’s overt cheating (including taking answer keys off teacher’s desks), it seems mild. My own kid had joint research (he did the majority) submitted by partner for a scholarship which this kid won in his name only. This unethical kid has now just won a Goldwater! What can you tell your kids? That they have to be able live with themselves? My guess it that we’ll see these kids in the U.S. Senate eventually : )</p>
<p>Twopence, I’ve done a pretty good job of instilling my D with a fairly active conscience–she believes the truth will out, that karma gets everyone in the end, etc., so she generally does the right thing, and certainly isn’t ruled by a competitive streak. </p>
<p>What you’re describing is a lot worse than her recent incident. These are the kinds of things that (should) get someone expelled or at least have prizes rescinded. Do you have documentation on the research? I <em>don’t</em> know how that kid lives with himself.</p>
<p>D’s issue reminds me of “Working Girl,” when the secretary points to the reasons why she came up with the idea, while the supervisor (who took credit) has no rationale.</p>
<p>DD suspects a teammate of cheating. In their sport, scores are self reported. DD corrected her once before and it cost the girl the win. That time, DD gave her the benefit of the doubt. Today, the girl was the match winner but DD is sure she cheated.</p>
<p>They both played in a tournament over the weekend with very good players who are diligent about keeping score and cheating would be difficult. Ironically, the girl didn’t score nearly as well. Very suspicious.</p>
<p>To OP: Minor matter; good lesson for the future. Why not use this episode for a college essay?</p>
<p>She actually just finished the CA and sent it last night. She’d already had an essay idea brewing for years…but if someone else wants to use this incident or the related anecdotes, feel free! No attribution necessary! ;)</p>