<p>So says Jonathan Reider, director of college counseling at San Francisco University High School:</p>
<p>*So when you honor or announce the National Merit semifinalists, or later, the finalists, etc., you are essentially presenting, with some exceptions, the hierarchy of income at your high school, not much more than that.</p>
<p>At my school, I discreetly email the Semifinalists when I receive the packets in September and ask them to come to a quiet meeting where I hand out the application packets and give them the instructions they need. No public announcement is made of numbers (and they are usually quite good, however you want to measure it), much less names. The number does appear in the school profile, but thatÂs about it.</p>
<p>Who, in the end, really cares, except those who want to count noses? It certainly has very little, if anything, to do with the quality of the school. . . . </p>
<p>So, no, I donÂt think [school s] should advertise them, or even pay them much heed.*</p>
<p>I donât think itâs worth a huge announcement. I think the whole thing should be very privateâŠI donât think most students like that much attention</p>
<p>Itâs one measure of aptitude in one area. Worthy of recognition, but not the end all be all, in my opinion. I donât agree that it should be a âhidden thingâ, but it shouldnât be overly glorified.</p>
<p>Well, Iâm not sure it makes sense to shower huge rewards on NSMs. But bottom line is that certain universities give big scholarships to these students. So, kids taking the PSAT should know the stakes. Some might want to studyâŠor some parents might want to prep them so they can avoid costs down the road. Promoting the kids who get NSM helps to do this. Anything that promotes saving money on college expenses sounds good to me. At our HS, most of the winners were comfortable financially - but some were NOT.</p>
<p>This is interesting. Iâve really never considered it in such a negative light. Our local school, where son is currently a junior, is in a not-great district and frequently touts its NMSFâs and commended. What I see, though, is an effort on the administrationâs part to give attention to something that formerly has received little, if any, recognition. Sports is king here (particularly football) and it is unusual to have a school honor the academic winners in our city. So in that sense, I find it kind of refreshing.</p>
<p>And truly, I donât see income as the overriding factor. We have many URMâs and even some students on free and reduced lunch plans on the NM list each year, so that principal is doing a disservice to those students who might benefit from some of the scholarship opportunities that the NM recognition offer.</p>
<p>I think itâs a shame not to announce the names of National Merit students. In an age where the star athletes, musicians,⊠get plenty of recognition it seems that our culture has lost our focus on the porpose of our schools. Although fine arts, physical education, ⊠are all very important benefits, they are not, nor should be, the primary focus - academics should be. So⊠give these students the recognition they deserve. By the , my son is not a Natioonal Merit Finalist or Semi-finalist.</p>
<p>"At my school, I discreetly email the Semifinalists when I receive the packets in September and ask them to come to a quiet meeting where I hand out the application packets and give them the instructions they need. No public announcement is made of numbers (and they are usually quite good, however you want to measure it), much less names. The number does appear in the school profile, but thatâs about it.</p>
<p>Who, in the end, really cares, except those who want to count noses? It certainly has very little, if anything, to do with the quality of the school. . . . "</p>
<p>Itâs still an honor, and I think the kidsâ achievements should be celebrated just as are the achievements of other kids. If someone wins honors for sports or for music, I assume they get recognition even though for many sports and musical endeavors, the kids who do best also have the funds to get extra training through expensive summer programs and private coaching/lessons.</p>
<p>And not all kids who are high income get to be NM scholars, etc. In addition, not all kids who get such honors come from educated or affluent families, though such kids are disproportionately recognized among the NM ranks.</p>
<p>In our school, athletics are publicly rewarded and lauded in every instance, yet when an academic achievement is reached weâre supposed to ignore it? What makes scoring well on a one time test any less of an achievement than a wrestling match or basketball game for instance. Yes I think smart students also would like recognition. </p>
<p>Our school hasnât had a National Merit Finalist in many years and I hope this year weâll have two. And I would think it a shame if the principal didnât go all out in congratulating these kids.</p>
<p>Why stop honoring students who excel academically but not others? Read a typical high school newspaper, and the students who are being honored are usually athletes. Academically successful students, whatever their income level, donât rate much ink.
Huge announcement? Usually, any honoring is done almost surreptitiously, like at some private breakfast before school starts. And thatâs it. That was when S found out who else had made NMF.</p>
<p>I think you have to understand University High School. Itâs an academically elite school, with lots of extremely rich families plus some very poor ones. It wouldnât surprise me if three quarters of the class is commended or a semifinalist. So itâs possible that naming names would focus on whoâs not on the list rather than who is.</p>
<p>I have mixed feelings. We found out yesterday that PMK jr. is a NMF. Of course weâre excited, although I must admit most of that excitement is tied up in potentinal merit money. Because it is just one test on one day. On the other hand, it can be a reflection of a student who spent a lot of time reading, had good teachers, etc. </p>
<p>My sonâs high school has not had a NMF in several years. The school is excited and proud. Itâs a good school but in a economically disadvantadged district. If they want to use my son to toot their horn and draw positive attention to the school, Iâm all for it. Heâs a member of that community and I see it like celebrating athletes in individual sports. Sure, one diver went to states, but the whole school takes pride in it. Isnât that the way it should be?</p>
<p>A quick visit to SFUHSâs website shows a school where 100% of the students graduate and go to top colleges, many attending HYPS and others. </p>
<p>I can see where a school like that doesnât really need to tout their NM numbers. And Seashore is probably right; people might be noticing who DIDNâT make the list.</p>
<p>But he shouldnât be putting schools down who choose to list names and give recognition.</p>
<p>In that case I can understand it. I would hate for students to feel badly about NMF. It should be a celebration and if it needs to be a low-key or private one, then so be it.</p>
<p>National Merit Scholarship Information: In the class of 2010, 13 students are expected to be National Merit Semi-Finalists, and 34 are expected to be Commended Students.</p>
<p>This reminds me of the story the founder of PR told when he visited my school. Apparently out of 100 students in his class at Harvard (Westlake) High, he was one of about 5 that didnât qualify for NMSF, yet they still had an assembly recognizing all those that did.</p>
<p>I get the one test on one day part. Every few years we have a NMSF about whom everyone says âwhat the heck? Who?â because the person hasnât really excelled as a student. But I think itâs FABULOUS to announce them at a pep rally or at half time at a football game for the reasons others have stated - athletes get so much atttention, why not someone else?</p>
<p>In 7th grade my older D placed 2nd in our region and 4th in the state on some big deal math test. I didnât even know about it until I googled her name years later. Absolutely nothing said at the school. The other D broke the schoolâs high jump record in 7th grade and her name will be prominently displayed on the wall until someone breaks her record, plus it was on the school web site, plus she got a special certificate for it on awards day.</p>
<p>Sâs high school used to have honor roll assemblies that were attended only by the honor roll students and their parents. In his senior year, they started having academic pep rallies with the entire student body, and kids on each honor roll level would run into the field house through a paper banner to cheers just like football players. Very cool.</p>
<p>National Merit commended students up through finalists were recognized, as was the academic quiz team. The team was the regional Scholastic Bowl champion for the first time in the history of the school, so they even got a nice banner on the wall with all of the athletic championship banners. Sâs official graduation photo showed him shaking hands with the principal, with the Scholastic Bowl banner in the background between their heads! </p>
<p>The school has come a long way from the little gathering in the cafeteria with a sign congratulating the âhonor roleâ studentsâŠ</p>
<p>So⊠if an athlete is recognized for his achievements the other kids that are not athletes will be offended?</p>
<p>So⊠if a NMSF is recognized for his achievements the other kids that are not NMSF will be offended?
Why stop recognizing what is good? Great performances of any student should be given the right recognition: Athletes, Musicians, Math Teams, Science Teams, Academic TeamsâŠNMSFâŠthey are our future!</p>
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