Grade-grubbing taken to the next level

The difference between an A and an A+ in Michigan, apparently, is a lawsuit.

Brian Delekta,… The difference between an A and an A+ in Michigan, apparently, is a lawsuit.

Brian Delekta, a high school senior and candidate for valedictorian, filed a suit Friday to have his A in a work-experience class – as a paralegal in his mother’s law office – changed to an A+.

The class was taken as a part of St. Clair County’s intermediate countywide school district, which awards an A as its highest grade. However, Delekta is a student at Memphis High School, which awards grades on a 12-point scale, with an A+ being a 12.

So he claims that, even though the system he took the class through doesn’t distinguish between A’s and A+’s, he deserves the higher grade. The countywide system had considered changing its policy to use the 12-point scale on Jan. 29, before the suit was filed, but the school board voted no.

Delekta wants to block the report of the class rankings, due Monday, until this matter is settled.

This abuse of the legal system is an example of grade-grubbing writ large. Why does this kid need a third of a grade so desperately? Is he really afraid this “travesty” will keep him from gaining admission to a good school?

Clearly he’s been earning top grades his entire high school career. He was ranked first at the end of his junior year in 2002. It’s not like this lawsuit is going to distinguish him from a mediocre student to a great one. It’s merely a calculated move to ensure he graduates with the distinction of valedictorian.

The title of valedictorian is doubtless something to be proud of, and something impressive to pad a resume with. But if Delekta is really that close to earning it, his resume probably doesn’t need the extra cushioning.

If competition is fierce enough that this young man feels the need to file a lawsuit, perhaps it is an indictment of the college application process itself.

Yet, universities these days don’t just look at hard numbers like grade-point averages and SAT scores. More and more, extracurricular activities such as community service are making the difference in terms of admission and scholarships. What might the price be for having a lawsuit that gets national attention attached to one’s academic triumph?

In examining the case, of course, one cannot ignore the fact that Delekta’s mother owns a law firm herself. That indicates two things: money and knowledge of the legal system. Are these advantages that every other student in the class has?