Talk:Valedictorian

message: I'd like to suggest completely dropping the list of famous valedictorians.  It's difficult to verify, incomplete, and highly vulnerable to people sliding their own names in.  I don't think it adds much to the page. TomTheHand 16:18, 21 June 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: I agree.  I'd also like to point out that the term "Famous" could be highly subjective. --Polkapunk 16:22, 21 June 2006 (UTC)
replies: text:  I'm removing the list.  If anyone has a problem with it, let's discuss it here. TomTheHand 21:37, 3 July 2006 (UTC)

text: I have inserted a list of "famous valedictorians" into the article.  I think it's acceptable, as long as the information comes through reliable sources (as with anything else on Wikipedia).  I actually think it adds a lot to this article.  As far as people sliding in their own names ... that's simply garden-variety Wikipedia vandalism ... and ought to be treated as such.  Furthermore, the highly subjective nature of "famous" can be easily interpreted as "notable" ... that is, an individual who has a Wikipedia article ... and, so, problem solved!  Thanks.   (Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 14:41, 27 April 2009 (UTC)
thread_title:  Famous valedictorians 

message: I added some extra cases in which co-valedictorians are appointed.  I've never heard of it being done for any affirmative action reasons or any such thing, but don't doubt that it happens.  Can anyone back this up?  70.162.244.38 02:09, 23 January 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Co-valedictorians 

message: I don't think universities use the SAT or ACT scores when considering Valedictorian status.  Those are used for admissions purposes, as well as in determination of financial aid, but they are entrance tests, not exit tests.  Why would they be used in this?  I'd like a source if the assertion that SAT and ACT scores are considered is correct.  --Micah Hainline 07:32, 15 April 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: I agree.  Prior to reading this article, I had never heard of a high school or college utilizing the SAT/ACT tests to determine the recipient of the title "class valedictorian."  (JosephASpadaro 17:51, 15 April 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  SAT and ACT scores 

message: The result was no consensus to merge. -- IrishGuy talk 00:16, 8 January 2008 (UTC)
replies: text: Strong Opposition - I would strongly oppose a proposed merger of the two articles, valedictorian and valediction.  There is no argument that these two terms share a common derivation.  However, the two terms have very, very different meanings and -- through both time and usage -- the first word has essentially nothing to do with the second word.  Yes, in the "old days", a valedictorian was the student who delivered a valediction to the class (typically at graduation).  Nowadays, however, the word "valedictorian" means anything and everything that a school defines it to mean (e.g., usually the top ranked academic student) ... whether or not such student actually delivers a valediction to the class at graduation.  There has, in fact, been some discussion and debate about this at the Talk Page for Valedictorian.  I think that, over time and through usage, the two words have a divergent enough meaning that they merit separate articles.  The common linguistic derivation, while interesting, is too tenuous to support a merger.  Nowadays, the term "valedictorian" means anything and everything but "the student who delivers the valedictory address."  Its historical meaning has become lost and replaced with the common usage of "highest ranked student."  While historically linked, the two terms have little -- if any -- connection today.  If indeed a school utilizes its highest ranked student (the valedictorian) to deliver a valediction, that is only by coincidence or by policy -- accentuating the fact that the two terms have diverged in meaning and currently bear little relationship to each other.  A merger here would be tantamount to, say, merging the articles on "astronaut" and "astronomy" simply because they share a common derivation ("astron" = star).  Yes, the article on valedictorian is short (but accurate) ... so be it.  Other than tenuous historical rooting, it really has nothing to do with valediction at all.  Strong opposition to this proposed merger.  (Joseph A. Spadaro 02:54, 16 October 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: Strongly oppose. I could say why, or I could say "Joseph above just said it perfectly." No reason to reinvent the wheel with my reasoning -- Joseph is clearly correct. - Revolving Bugbear (formerly Che Nuevara) 23:56, 9 November 2007 (UTC)

text: Strongly oppose as well, with the same reasoning. Etymology isn't enough to lump two divergent meanings into one article. Ig8887 (talk) 00:51, 26 November 2007 (UTC)

text: Oppose - They're really not related. --ubiquity (talk) 02:39, 12 December 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Suggested merge with [[Valedictorian]] 

message: "Its equivalent in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Iceland, and Scotland is dux". Not sure the dux give a speech but they are always the highest ranking (semidux, next highest). The Dux page said "NOT to be confused with Valedictorian" before I (just) changed a bit. It was not referenced. These pages should get their story straight. comp.arch (talk) 16:17, 11 February 2014 (UTC)
thread_title:  Equivalent to [[dux]]? 

message: Long considered a high honor, the valedictorian tradition faces an uncertain future.    Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 04:40, 10 June 2019 (UTC)
thread_title:  History and origins of the concept of valedictorian 

message: The term / usage is used in the US and Canada, though rarely / never elsewhere, but the article is written as though it is in much wider use.
Aa well as this being misleading it indicates an underlying US-centric view of the world within Wikipedia. The former problem can be corrected, though would never have occurred if there were sound editorial oversight of articles. The latter problem is endemic in Wikipedia. 86.142.227.60 (talk) 08:54, 16 September 2022 (UTC)
replies: text: I agree - the term is certainly not in common usage in the Uk (not just Scotland) and I am not at all clear that Dux is there local equivalent, not least because the Dux is awarded at school level, not class. I also had the impression that it was traditionally awarded on the basis of wider contribution, not just academic achievement.  Hendersondonald (talk) 03:14, 13 December 2022 (UTC)
thread_title:  US-centric