<p>Ann, thanks. I think you have their position down perfectly.</p>
<p>Val = dullard, or grade grubber or schemer, while non-val slackard = brilliant, late bloomer, soon to be mover and shaker. Slackard , for this purpose only (and to keep the natives riled ;)), means "kid who slacks off on classes they don't like and by this 'choice' makes less than an A", because of course, had the kid tried they'd have been val. But wait, wouldn't their brilliant late bloomer mover and shaker kid then be a dullard? I'd think this one through folks. LOL.</p>
<p>I'll try again. How's this? Not all vals are brilliant, but it does not necessarily follow that brilliant kids can't be vals.</p>