In an era of grade-grubbing and manipulation of the almighty grade-point average, is there any reasonable way to choose the most outstanding student of a given graduating class?
A Los Angeles Times editorial Tuesday suggests that schools either get rid of the valedictorian -- at least as the supposedly top student in the graduating class -- or rethink how to choose students for the honor. The idea isn't to avoid hurting the feelings of other students; rather, it's to solve the problem of the grade-point boost given for AP and honors classes (as well as International Baccalaureate, for those schools advanced enough to have them) that can make choosing a valedictorian almost meaningless.
