The following story would almost be unbelievable if it didn’t come out of an American public “school” system.
Being your school’s valedictorian might be the greatest honor a student can achieve. But what happens when there’s a mixup? After delivering a valedictory speech at DeSoto High School’s graduation in May, Texas student Destiny Brannon was told she wasn’t the school’s valedictorian after all.
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On June 12, Destiny’s parents were told that the school had made a mistake calculating the students’ final rankings, the Dallas Morning News reported. Even though she had already spoken at DeSoto’s graduation on May 31, Brannon was apparently third in her class, according to the new rankings, which put a student named Brian Uzuegbunam in first place. According to the Dallas Morning News, the error happened because DeSoto had calculated the final rankings based on grades through the school’s fall semester, not the spring semester.
The mistake is more than just an embarrassing moment for the school too; it’s a potential financial nightmare for the Brannon family. Texas state universities give each of the state’s public high school valedictorians the opportunity to attend one year at a state university tuition free. Destiny had planned to attend the University of Texas at Austin. The family claims she had already gone through the school’s first-year orientation when her family learned about the valedictorian mixup.
The biggest twist in the story, though, is the fact that Destiny and her mom apparently don’t think the mixup was an accident at all. Destiny’s graduation speech criticized the school’s administration for valuing athletics over education, according to the Dallas Morning News. The outlet reported that although former DeSoto principal Arista Owens-McGowan had approved the speech, Destiny and her mom think the new rankings came in response to the criticism.
Given how “schools” are desperate to shut down dissent, I buy the retaliation angle. However, given that some American public school teachers can’t read, it’s likely that some school administrators can’t add.
Destiny Brannon, Gloria Akinnibosun, and Brian Uzuegbunam are three of those very high IQ students I’ve noted before, the ones you can’t stop from learning even if you try. Their grade averages, for any semester, are likely all high “A’s,” separated by some small fraction. They excel because they’re smart and certainly not due to being in a school that can’t tell spring from fall.
For Ms. Brannon and all the graduates, I am happy they are free from this stupidity. The Brannons should seriously consider legal action due to the financial bite. The State and the People of Texas should consider shutting down this failed system. The system owes them all an apology.
Here’s how the DeSoto High “School” breaks down:
US News.
This school boasts a 91% graduation rate even as they admit, by their numbers, that only half the students are proficient in reading. It’s a 97% minority school; where’s the feigned outrage from the usual suspects? Oh, yeah. They don’t really care.
I do. So I’ll leave bright, young Ms. Brannon with this: You cannot be stopped. Forget these fools. (Sue them maybe). Destiny, your destiny begins now.
Bright woman, recent prison escapee. USN.
