<p>What does everyone think about putting scholarship info in local paper once child makes up their mind where they want to go? For example, if D received a "jon brown scholarship" in the amount of say 1/2 tuition for four years worth $80,000 would it be okay to put ad in paper something like:
"John Doe receives Jon Brown Scholarship to Tip University" or "John Doe to attend Tip University on Jon Brown Scholarship"? Then put details like..activities, etc? I see a lot a announcements about kids going to particular schools but haven't really noticed if they put in the scholarship info.
I really want to put this info in for a couple reasons: first and foremost because child worked so hard to get the scholarship and secondly to try and get through to some people how important academics are.. perhaps if some of the parents in this school district see it they might start to realize that sports are not priority one. Both of my kids are active in sports. Senior D lettered in soccer and track all four years in high school, younger D is really active in basketball and barrel racing.. but we have always made their education top priority. The school district goes WAY overboard on sports (you may have seen my prior post on this) and the money all goes to sports programs and not academic programs. This really bothers me. I noted that both my kids are active in sports because I don't want anyone to think I am anti-sports or anything like that because I definitely am not. Just can't stand seeing what parents behave like when it comes to their kids and sports and how they make their kids CRAZY pressuring them about being superstars. It has gotten worse every year at our district. Parents become completely obsessed about it. I see kids crying at almost every game - because their parents are screaming at them and telling them they 'suck', etc.. it is really horrible to watch. Isn't their some way to get through to these people?? Sorry to go on so long but in the past few years this has really gotten under my skin. The saddest part is most of these parents are really nice people. They just become completely different when they are at sporting events. I see someone I have known for years turn into a maniac at a soccer game! I truly believe it is a BIG problem and will only get worse... I would like to hear your thoughts if you don't mind taking a minute or two. Thanks!</p>
<p>I love seeing that kind of info. It's nice seeing teens getting recognition for something good. The scholarship info also helps inform students who are coming behind.</p>
<p>In general, we believe that no publicity of any kind is the best publicity. There are some strange people out there. This town - a super-conservative Christian enclave - can sometimes bring out the worst. A friend was profiled in the local daily paper and it mentioned his strong Jewish faith and how his family lived that faith. He received death threats and was warned to get out of town. That upset me no end.</p>
<p>In our local weekly, you always see announcements, wondering why they feel certain achievements must be told to the world. Especially after two years on CC I laugh when the paper has an announcement about the latest "National Honor Roll" that requires but a payment to join. It is sometimes interesting to see what students are doing, but we are really very private people (except my ramblings on CC). I do, however, see the desire to brag - I do it more than I should myself. But doing it in the local paper would embarass my kid.</p>
<p>If you do it, though, I see no need to omit the scholarship information. That's part of the bragging! Do it!</p>
<p>Our son has made the paper twice - once when he did his (unusual) Eagle Scout project and once when the Astronomy Club (He's the president) was building and testing rockets for a national competition. But both were "news" stories, vs the "announcement" stories, so we agreed to those.</p>
<p>I know we're strange in that way, but the bad experience of my friend has shaken me forever.</p>
<p>Student scholars do need more pubs; IMO, it can work well if it is not obvious bragging, particularly given the order of the announcement. So, I'd rearrange the announcement: Tip Univeristy has awarded our local student, BMOC, a Jon Brown scholarship for full tuition over the next four years.... Our local paper always bolds the kids names so they jump off the page, but, it by rearranging the announcment, it looks a little less self-serving. Also, you might check with Tip U bcos they may issue their own 'press' release to the local towns to kids to whom they offered money. Foundations love to brag themselves, which is could for thier own publicity and fundraising.</p>
<p>btw: CONGRATS to kids on hard work.</p>
<p>we had a kid attend a private (mentioned sometimes on here, good rep, but not close to ivy) and she had an announcement something like this: (her name) has recieved the (scholarship's name), at (college) which is given to valedvictorians or salutorians and pays 3/4 tuition. I think listing activities can be going a bit overboard and may be bragging, at least that's how I would see it.</p>
<p>The only paper here that accepts that sort of announcement is a small, town newspaper. I sometimes galnce through the list and I'm always amused at who sends in the information. It is nearly always the same families over and over. The few families that I actually know are (IMO) really annoying parents. So that puts me off to the idea right there. But then again, I'm even annoyed by the bumper sticker "my kid is an honor student..." I think our kids could stand a shot of humility now and then. They do it for themselves not for others. </p>
<p>However, your point about the athletes is VERY well taken. Our regular paper has virtually a whole section of high school sports. Imagine if it were dedicated to HS arts or music or robotics or masterminds or...</p>
<p>weenie: my point exactly. Academic achievements are very RARELY mentioned.. my d who has had numerous academic achievements in high school has made the paper several times.. always for sports. Very sad reflection of our society. </p>
<p>On the topic of "bragging" I, too, have a tendency to keep quiet about kids achievements unless specifically asked about them. Occasionally, in conversation, I might say a thing or two but the occasions are rare. My D however is extreme..she received scholarship info and after we looked it over I said "aren't you going to call so and so (her friends) to tell them and she said "no". End of conversation. In fact, I had to do a recc to one of her college choices about her - it was required (and harder than you might think) and I tried to be as objective as a mother can be and one of the things that I said about her was "sometimes she humbles me" and she does. I would of course clear any announcement with her first (which may make this thread moot : ) </p>
<p>Perhaps the phrasing of the announcement would be key like bluebayou suggests. </p>
<p>That's what I like about cc.. so many views and things to consider.</p>
<p>My D would not be happy to have any announcements in the newspaper, so we are just going to honor her wishes. I however love to read of other kids' scholastic achievements. </p>
<p>Our High School changed their "posting policy" this year. In the past, every student was posted up along with all the schools they had been admitted to. This year, a handful of students went to the principal and said that it made them feel bad, and so now, the new school policy is that Ed students will be posted only. If a student has multiple admissions, EA or otherwise, only the school that they declare they will attend, gets posted.</p>
<p>we publish a list on our website of everywhere people decided to attend, instead of just accepted for 2 reasons. 1, when you've got 400+ people, applying to an average of 5 schools, it makes for a long list and 2, people aren't competetive here, so it's not like people are interested in who went to yale and who went to harvard</p>
<p>I just talked on the phone with D's guidance counselor who informed me that my D and one other student are the only two applying to colleges that are not local i.e. out of state schools. Out of 219. I also asked why we never have reps from schools from anywhere but this area and he said that the reps don't have the time to visit high schools where they haven't gotten 1 application from in the past 10 years!! I suggested that maybe if we had a rep or two from somewhere else it would open some of the kids eyes to other possilities.. I really think that most of the kids around here do not consider out of state schools (or even schools further than a 2 hour drive) as an option.. seems so strange to me. Does anyone else have this emm "syndrome" at their high school?</p>
<p>Isandin:
Yes, at our public school it seems that most (but not all) of the kids who go to college only apply to the state schools. I don't know if it is bad guidance or what. Even kids who are top achievers and could get scholarships go to SUNY schools. That is not true for all the suburbs here (not by a long shot) but it does seem to be true in my (more modest) town - but my kids don't go to the public school. Maybe it is an emphasis on education (or not). The people here seems to have plenty of money for big houses, SUVs, vacations and stuff. Maybe it has never occurred to them to go anywhere else. I don't know. </p>
<p>I noticed that my kids' school no longer submits the honor roll list to the paper and I don't see it posted at school anymore. I don't know if this is a new policy or if there just isn't a person to do that. It's fine. Our school does distribute a list of all the seniors' SAT, GPAs and what schools they applied to, got in, got turned down, and ultimately attended - but WITHOUT names. It was VERY helpful during the college selection process.</p>
<p>My son is very blas</p>
<p>Slightly different topic, but there are stories that drive me nuts in our local paper, which could only have been sent in by parents: </p>
<p>Front page stories, complete with photos, about a kid who found a wallet and turned it in (so now basic honesty is newsworthy?).</p>
<p>Big story on 4-year-old's birthday party (stinking filthy rich family) and how the 4-year-old supposedly asked everyone to "give to the poor" instead of asking for presents (whose idea was that?). Story is written in breathtaking prose, about how wonderful and generous the kid is (sorry, until they've reached the age of reason, I don't buy it).</p>
<p>Stories on how some kid was asked to go to a "prestigious" conference or got a "prestigious" award: believe me, if you have to qualify something with the adjective "prestigious," it probably isn't.</p>
<p>I could go on and on. That said, after all the sports stories, I DO like to see legitimate academic achievements honored. This does NOT include college-generated scholarships.</p>
<p>lsandin: we have the same situation here. Out of nearly 800 graduates, only six went out of state from my son's class. Although the lead GC last year insisted that people from out-of-state interview at our school, last time I checked Lubbock was still in Texas! Both of my children had to drive up to either Houston or San Antonio for interviews. It's the same situation, interviewers do not want to waste time driving down here if there is little to no interest. Trying to generate enough interest is tough.</p>
<p>As for the academic awards, our newspaper still runs the honor rolls from a tri-county region, and all of the "Who's Who" (we call that Who Cares) and "National Honor Roll", beauty pageant winners etc....We finally got our gc to run some of the AP with distinction, National Merit commended/semi/finalist, and such. The private school then followed suit. Maybe it will start a trend.</p>
<p>Oh...and in our town, those AP and NMS awards are a bigger deal than a lot of places, because we have about three AP scholars per year, and a NMSemi about every other year. I'm sure that some of you in areas with more rigorous standards would find those less interesting.</p>
<p>The scholarships are announced at the Senior Banquet. Rarely are they printed, with the exception of the locally given scholarships. They put the sponsor in as a thank you for giving the scholarship money.</p>
<p>nedad:
You must have a Gannett paper too!!! Sounds just like ours! Meanwhile, ahem, there's a war going on...</p>
<p>nedad: what types of academic achievements do you think should be mentioned? Why not college-generated scholarships? Are they not "legitimate" academic accomplishments? Sports related scholarships are ALWAYS mentioned.. in the local paper, in the school paper, on the school "light up board". Do you mean science type awards? Debates? Mock Trials? I would really like to bring some of these up at the next meeting at the high school. What types of things would you like to see on the high school light up board up front? Other than who made the all-star team, homecoming queen, etc... we NEVER have any academic accomplishments up there... no national merit finalists.. nothing (then again we HAD no national merit semi-finalists (only 1 commended).. but nothing about that up there for everyone driving by to see.. Our middles school is on the "no child left behind" list for the second year in a row..I haven't read anything about that..not even an editorial but there are complaints about coaches in there every day~~I would really like to hear what types of things you think could be announced - put in the school paper, on the light up board, etc that you feel might make being a good student seem like a good idea to the kids around here. My youngest D seems to think if you are a good basketball player you don't have to do homework (math teacher is her coach.. told her "not to worry about it".), get good grades (although you must have a C to play in a game), etc. She laughs when I try to explain how important her education will be. She says that she will just make sure she is good enough at basketball to get into college. And a "c" average will be good enough for that! So far she has maintained a 3.0 average (in our middle school) because she knows that I will make basketball a pleasant memory with anything less than that.. BUT if she put half as much effort in schoolwork as she does into basketball who knows what she could do. Sorry, I guess my point here is how can we, as parents, get through to the kids that SCHOOL is first and important and most especially REWARDING?? Because right now, if I were a kid in this district I would be out practicing my jump shot too...</p>
<p>lsandin...I think we have that problem everywhere. That's why we have an entire sports section in the newspaper, and fully half is devoted to high school athletics. Not to mention the 7-10 minute chunk of local news air time. You will never see a section in either medium devoted to academics. I guess "nerd" signing day wouldn't be as interesting. </p>
<p>Come to think of it...they DO mention the sports related college $$$. But that is such a pipe dream for most of our kids. More would qualify under academics or need.</p>
<p>I'm with Dig. No fame is the best fame. I found that out the hard way. If you've ever had people stop you in the grocery because they recognize you from television or newspaper features, you'd know that it is a horrible horrible sensation. </p>
<p>Americans are programmed to seek fame, with the rest of the world fast adopting our obsession. Besides my own horrid experience, I lived in a small building in NYC with a couple of uber-famous movie stars. That kind of fame destroys the simple pleasures of life. </p>
<p>Why do you seek a public confirmation? It doesn't sound like your Ds need it. Fair enough about the sports pages, but lots of men I know follow sports stats for the sheer pleasure of stats. Anyway, who cares? Not me. I steer my boys far, far away from any kind of pubilicity.</p>
<p>I agree that "college-generated" scholarships are definitely appropriate to report. Not clear on why nedad feels they are bush league? I plan to put an item in re S' merit scholarship, once April/May has come and all kids settled on plans, in our local paper. Feel S deserves it, the validation and concrete recognition of our pride. </p>
<p>Isandin, I know from previous posts that you and I have dramatically different PHS situations, me fortunate to have what you would like in terms of academics first, etc. We are also small town and bi-weekly paper has a section for such pieces - ranging from local attorney elected President of ABA to birth of grandchild to recognition of student for musical accomplishment. Funnily, never includes sports that I have seen (covered adequately in metro paper). In our case, such an item will not seem "weird," and will not make S cringe (anymore than he cringes at anything H or I might say).</p>
<p>I say: go with your gut.</p>
<p>Isandin - reading even more about the (depths of) your frustration with priorities in your school district - and sympathizing totally.</p>
<p>None of my beeswax and no need to reply if you don't care to discuss - but do you have options? Private? Move to nearby better district etc?</p>
<p>However, I applaud your desire to work to make changes from within. Don't know how much of an uphill battle it will be. Sounds mountainous.</p>
<p>I think it would be great if the newspaper would begin the practice of having a column for such achievements. I would otherwise avoid the publicity. Having only one student featured would point to the fact that either the student or the parent sent the info in, which might be taken as useless bragging. Your D might take the heat for it. I do agree that more emphasis needs to be placed on academic achievements. I think you should channel your energy into talking the newspaper into running a feature on the achievements of multiple local kids.</p>
<p>A BIG congrats to your D!! Wow, that's a lot of money!</p>