If American educational institutions represent American values, then at one point in time, American values were pretty reprehensible, because those values included capping the number of Jews at elite colleges (note that holistic admissions was conceived for the purpose of keeping Jews out of Ivies). Actually, we know that American values at various points in time were pretty reprehensible even outside the context of higher education, because at various points in time, the majority of this country was fine with blatant discrimination and scapegoating of Jews/blacks/Japanese/Hispanics/minorities of various types as well as blackballing people because of their political views. Given that history, how can anyone be so sure that the current admissions philosophy of most American elites will actually be seen to be on the right side of history 50 years from now? The defenders of the Jewish quotes in the 1930’s certainly believed that they were in the right and doing the best thing for their universities, but how many people these days would laud them for their wisdom and foresight?
I don’t think that current American values represented in current educational institutions are “reprehensible,” and I doubt that anyone who has seriously studied those values finds them “reprehensible.” I know that I do not. I do not find anything reprehensible in the embraced values I listed, among others. There are some people who are far too intent on widening one concept into several nefarious ones. And I don’t level that against only one person. An objection can be found to everything, if one works hard enough at it.
Again, the institutions of higher education in this country strive to reward and promote what are considered, over time, the best values in this country – values that other countries also admire about us. Abiding values that have stood the test of time.
It’s the Fourth, but some people just need to be negative about every little thing. And some people have a reductionist view of history.
Re: post 215:
The USA residents probably do value their sexuality.
Accountants see FOB as a shipping term meaning free on board.
I would like to share the following perspective in regards to this student from TJHSST.
http://www.chuckgallagher.com/the-genius-girl-is-an-ethical-fraud/
@epiphany, did you read what I wrote? Those “abiding values that have stood the test of time” include discriminating against Jews back in the day. Are you trying to say that that wasn’t reprehensible?
As a parent who does not have to “imagine that you had a child in this high school” I can tell you that this is not true for most TJ students.
@fallgirl I agree as many graduates attend in state universities like UVA and William & Mary.
As another parent who does not need to use her imagination, I will also state that this little game was not played amongst my son’s friends. Some did get into Ivies, etc. but it was not some sort of parlor game.
MSDhoni,
Your information on suicide rates is partially correct and partially incorrect. An important finding:
http://www.apa.org/pi/oema/resources/ethnicity-health/asian-american/suicide.aspx
Following on @jym626
Interesting, thoughtful, and I think balanced, NPR interview:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113114107
and another thoughtful one, i.m.o., focused on university students and including a study about high school students:
http://newamericamedia.org/2014/05/a-hidden-tragedy----mental-illness-and-suicide-among-asian-americans.php
Note that, while neither article denies the factor of pressure, both articles refer to cultural habits of suppression of communication about it, which any mental health practitioner recognizes as an additional risk for suicide ideation and completion.
And this article:
http://www.asianweek.com/2009/08/14/suicide-rates-rising-among-asian-americans/
This has been discussed several times here on cc in the past several years. This is terribly sad.
Here is a more recent article:
http://reappropriate.co/2015/05/asian-american-student-suicide-rate-at-mit-is-quadruple-the-national-average/
The pressure to excel can have a variety of consequences, from dishonesty in reporting to thoughts/acts of self harm. Discussing it openly can hopefully help address this issue.
Clearly the topic has drifted from the original act by the student at TJ. This is not surprising in the least, but I think the thread is exhausted. Closing thread.