<p>why announce county champ winners over announcements, or in the newspaper then? My non under 4 minute mile child will survive feelings wont get hurt If every kids feelings got hurt over someone elses accomplishments, well then… time to get some thick skin… you know the saying there is always someone smarter,taller,skinnier, richer, than me or mine </p>
<p>Congrats to your son, he deserves the praises, a 36 will get nice merit money as much as a 2400 will.</p>
<p>Schools have issues, just like families. If someone gets a 36, and 3 others get a 35, they have to pow-wow to decide how to handle announcements for the happiness of all. If this hasn’t happened in a long time at that school, they may not know what to do yet.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, did your extended family get excited for him? Depending on your family, we count on each other to cheer everything from SAT’s in the low 600’s to the first sentence uttered by an autistic cousin…there are all kinds of measurable accomplishments. </p>
<p>You mention parents in your community who grouse about not getting their tax bucks out of their school performance. I’m thinking: these folks might not be the ones to celebrate even a 36. They might say, “One 36 is great; how come there aren’t a half-dozen of them…?” etc.</p>
<p>nope plenty test optional schools if test anxiety is a big factor, its not like the 1100/2400 are announced with names, nobody knows the lowest, nor any in between the lowest and highest scores.</p>
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<p>Yes, but as Curmudgeon pointed out correctly, the issue was not about the scores but about the actions by the father. As one of the posters who thought that the father was misguided in choreographing his son’s life and refusing to step out of the limelight, I see few parallels to the question asked by the OP and the comments about the Ghosh saga. </p>
<p>Being surprised that there is little reaction to an amazing academic performans is legitimate and understandable; nothing in the Ghosh “public dismay” was.</p>
<p>PS Congratulations for the amazing score; just desserts will come!</p>
<p>Bullet, I see your point, and I’m not suggesting there be a headline with 60-point type about it. </p>
<p>But I also wouldn’t see any damage being done by a brief acknowledgment in print or even a short announcement on the loudspeaker — “Congratulations to John Doe who got a perfect score on the ACT” — before going on to the usual announcements involving CIF awards and who signed with what college for an athletic scholarship.</p>
<p>I see it as a little bit of both. If I remember correctly, there were plenty of comments about the kid having no life, being dull, etc… The Asian-American stereotype was trotted out…</p>
<p>Our school does not publicize scores with names. The information belongs to the individual. ACT, however, will send your son a draft press release which you can (with his permission, obviously) send off to your local news media.</p>
<p>True, Marite, and fwiw, I absolutely agree about the dangers in succumbing to the desire or pressure to plaster private information in the newspapers. If there is one commonality, it is that the story almost never comes out as planned, especially if one seeks accolades. </p>
<p>There is a priceless answer to journalists and other newsmembers: NO THANK YOU! Something that Ghosh Senior should have done instead of seeking an illusory and vicarious glory, if not vindication for his “dedication.”</p>
<p>We live in a very small community (7,000 in the county). The school, in many ways, is the center of what’s going on, because everyone seems to know some kid there. Sometimes, schools make a big deal out of things. Sometimes, they don’t. </p>
<p>It took us to educate our guidance people about National Merit. My son urged his classmates to take the PSAT as juniors and they laughed. Then, he got an awesome score, and he had to explain what it meant. Immediately he got lip for not telling them. Well, he did. So did guidance. And if he’s a NMF, he’ll be in the paper … and yes, he’ll take more grief.</p>
<p>Fortunately, the positives do outweigh the negatives in most cases.</p>
<p>The most important thing is that your S’s ACT is a big deal to you and your family. Celebrate it. Treasure it. Few people receive that score. Frame it, too. Someday, it will be great to show him when he’s busy with his kids, work and all the other things of life.</p>
<p>One of the differences between announcing sports scores or accomplishments in sporting events is that those are held in public, are open to the public, and those in attendance (not related to the athlete) know about whatever the event is. I’m sure that many schools that announce sporting accomplishments also announce wins by the debate team, the math team, the robotics team. And what the other athletes do at the meet or game who do not achieve those accomplishments are also public from the beginning.</p>
<p>The ACT score, however, is earned in private, and that right to privacy is covered by various state and federal law. Unless you’ve signed a waiver, the school may believe that it is forbidden from telling anyone about the private score.</p>
<p>CONGRATS!!! If your son is not opposed, post it in the paper. People in my neck of the woods do this all the time, (not just for high test scores, either). It’s a way for you and your family to let son know how much you love him and are proud of him. Again, congrats!</p>
<p>if i may inquire … why should anyone else CARE if your son got a 36? Yes, it’s an incredible score, but … is it really newsworthy? Will it really affect anyone else in any meaningful way?</p>
<p>In sports, it is likely that there are announcements because first and foremost, these athletes represent the school. However, the ACT and SAT, you are first and foremost representing yourself. This is a fundamental difference.</p>
<p>Please don’t think I’m trying to diminish the accomplishment, but really, there’s no reason for public celebration.</p>
<p>Yes, rightnotleft.</p>
<p>It is newsworthy. Just like the lady who swallowed her own head, this stuff doesn’t happen everyday. 
Being rare in and of itself makes many things newsworthy. What’s your problem with this particular thing? Are you sure the standard for “newsworthy” is that it will affect someone in a meaningful way? Have you ever watched Fox News? ;)</p>
<p>It is rare. It is an accomplishment. Therefore it is a rare accomplishment and that in and of itself makes it newsworthy. </p>
<p>There is every reason for celebration. How public? Everyone gets to decide that for themselves but I do hope the kid’s feelings are respected at least every other parental cartwheel. </p>
<p>Remember folks, what ol’ curmudgeon always says -“If it ain’t vicarious , it ain’t really living”. </p>
<p>Celebrate away. I’m celebrating with you. Just keep it in perspective. (It’s cool. It’s newsworthy but it won’t get you into H and it won’t get you the big named scholarships at the top 50 schools.)</p>
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<p>Schools may not choose to see it that way, especially mediocre schools that don’t get perfect scores so often. If you are high-end high school that gets several 36/2400s every year and puts a dozen or more kids into HYPSM every year, this may well be a ho-hum. But if this represents a big breakthrough at a so-so school, it might be in the school’s interest to brag about this a bit - to show doubting members of the school board and the public that the school is capable of educating kids to the very highest levels of academic achievement.</p>
<p>Now, I only read the first page of so of this negativity, but my son also got a perfect 36. Let me see, he has been on TV, Radio,local paper, big city paper, awards from Board of Education (Standing Ovation at the Board Meeting). Counselors got him out of class when I called the school, and yes I did call and no I don’t think that is pushy. His APBio class got to go up and down the halls of our 2000 kid school telling each classroom about his accomplishment. He was given a special award at our band banquet. And it isn’t over. These folks who have kids who scored a 34 or 35 or whatever, are merely downplaying this to make them feel better about their child. It is just about the best accomplishment a child can make. There is no such thing as too much attention for an accomplishment such as this. If this was done for their child, would they tell the TV, no we don’t want to be on TV and no don’t put us in the paper. I think not. You can’t get a 36 by guessing; you must be quite intelligent. any child who scores a 36 is used to the treatment quoted in the first page or so of posts. I am having jerseys printed up with the number 36 on them. Our church is hanging a plaque in the Family Life Center. Our bank says “_____banks here!!” and this isn’t over…there will be more over the summer. So yes, your school should be doing more. Ours did.
And by the way, don’t worry about the negative posts. Our kids will be hiring then firing their kids.</p>
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<p>Wrong. I scored a 36 on the ACT a while back at the end of my junior year. With my score report, I also received a form to be filled out and sent to the local media. My counselor received (and completed and sent) this same form. The folks who administer the ACT disagree with you.</p>
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<p>I disagree with this too. Some of the biggest articles/celebrations deal with athletes who sign LOIs with a university known to have a strong athletic program. This has nothing to do with representing the school.</p>
<p>To the OP: I work in a high school. This is one of the absolute craziest times of the year. I could throttle people who say to me, “Oh, how nice, your year is winding down.” HA! Between organizing graduation and all the Senior events, the statewide standardized testing that goes on for the underclassmen, finals, awards ceremonies for academics & athletics & music, NHS, collecting unpaid fees and bills, trying to get underclassmen’s schedules organized for next year… and I just talked to the guidance secretary who is pulling her hair out getting all the local scholarship awards stuff together AND trying to get all the year-end transcripts out to the colleges. </p>
<p>Honestly, if you think your high school guidance office has nothing to do but jump up and down because your kid did great on a standardized test… you’ve obviously never given much thought to exactly what a guidance office does. </p>
<p>If you want the newspaper to know, TELL THEM. Personally, I think the GC writing your son a personal note was a really nice thing to do.</p>
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<p>Please make sure to add that wonderful line in all your interviews. </p>
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<p>Is that how you felt before getting the latest ACT score on the 23d?</p>
<p>OP, congratulations to your son!!! As the parent of a child who “only” got a 34, I can assure you she wouldn’t have “felt bad” if a classmate scored higher. She would have been thrilled for him! I won’t even stoop to countering the negative comments, other than to say that this IS a huge deal. Please feel free to be thrilled to pieces.</p>
<p>As for the gc, yes, a bit more would have been nice. However, there are so many legitimate reasons why it may not have happened. It definitely is an incredibly busy time of year. In addition, it is wise (if not necessary?) for a gc to get the kid’s permission before releasing scores. Plus, it was a holiday weekend. I agree with others that the note was a very nice touch … it means his accomplishment has not been forgotten.</p>
<p>Some kids don’t want these things publicized. It is common to publicize Eagle Scouts in my community, but my friend’s son made it clear to all that he did not want his accomplishment publicized. If your son would like this to be public (and I thing it’s perfectly fine to do that!!!), fill out the media release form & mail it to the local papers. Send a copy to the gc (or just a note stating that it’s okay to talk about it). I know that 36’s are relatively rare around here. As for 2400’s … please ignore who claims that a 2400 is somehow “better” than a 36.</p>
<p>Do listen to those who say that a 36 is not a ticket to any particular school or scholarship. The truth is that there are enough across the country that they are not a slam-dunk reason to accept a kid or give him a scholarship. And it is just one piece of the puzzle that colleges/scholarship committees look at. That said, though, there are certainly many wonderful opportunities ahead for your son!! :)</p>
<p>Since I am the only one talking about 2400’s …again I will state it is not a slam. I meant it in a positive way. Our DS had to take both due to the fact that Notre Dame wanted ACT, and his other schools wanted SATs. I never ever said or implied that one test was a better measure than another. What I implied was for someone who gets a 36, I am sure they can achieve a 2400. To have both perfect scores is unbelievable. I was wishing well to him when he takes his SAT and adding IMO that perfect scores on both is worth HS. town, county, state, and national media attention…especially since only a handful get it every year. I get the fact that in some regions kids don’t take both, but in our region competitive kids take both. Nothing for or against the ACT or SAT just a fact.</p>