| By Dianne Weaver
A long time tradition of honoring the highest academic achievers could end Monday evening at the Calhoun County Board of Education meeting.
Eliminating valedictorians and salutatorians at Calhoun High School is scheduled for a vote.
Arnoldsburg parent Kelley Houchin, is objecting to the policy change, which she says will eliminate academic competition.
"Many parents object to this change," she said.
Houchin says Calhoun Schools seems to be making the change because it is a nationwide trend.
"That is not a good enough reason to make the policy change," she said.
"Too many times nationwide trends have driven poor choices for local students. One only has to look at the much-maligned block scheduling to see an example of this," said Houchin.
"Competition is part of the real world."
"In the next few years, these students will be asked to compete for scholarships, college admissions, internships, jobs, and career advancement," she said.
Houchin is asking parents and citizens who disagree with eliminating the high honors to contact Board of Education members prior to Monday's meeting, which is scheduled at the board office for 7 p.m.
US Educators who favor the policy change say it creates an "unhealthy" situation for academic achievers.
They support recognizing an upper percentage of honor students, likely 10% of the top scholastic achievers in a graduating class.
Houchin says that is already being done very well in Calhoun schools.
Some US educators say such traditions have out-lived their usefulness.
They say some schools struggle with boorish behavior from the audience, pranks that
sometimes border on vandalism,and security concerns.
They believe the concept of class rank should come under increased scrutiny.
The same educators say the val-sal system sometimes encourages students to take less difficult classes to get the high honors.
Houchin says such problems are generally occurring in large,
affluent high schools located in metropolitan areas with graduating classes that well exceed 500 students.
Last year, Calhoun High School graduated only 69 students.
"The reasons to change the val-sal honors are really weak," concluded Houchin.
| 
