This is a sad story for the soon-to-be graduates of WHHS. The school board should have let this new "honor system" go in effect for the current freshman class instead of the current senior class who graduate in four or so months. Being a former resident of Hampton county and graduating top of my class, I feel for those students who worked very hard the past four years to graduate top of their class and have the honor to give the Validictory address at graduation. Does the school board not care that these students have worked hard for basically nothing now? Yes, being able to graduate with "Latin honors" is something special, but that is for a COLLEGE graduate to say. Just because there was speculation last year doesn't mean they should have to ruin high school graduation for the class of 2010. I feel sympathy for those students that looked forward to giving a speech at their commencement ceremony. The class of 2010 should not have had that taken away, just a few months before graduation. The Latin honor system should be in effect for the freshman class, that way those students can work hard for the rest of their high school career to earn Latin honors. Personally, I feel that this new honor system will not encourage the students to work hard to become top of the class. Why would students in high school look forward to graduating Summa Cum Laude? When I was in high school, I looked forward to hopefully graduating Valedictorian or Saluditorian. Now, being in college, I look forward to graduating with Latin honors. I never thought that speculation from the class rankings of students of the class of 2009 would lead to this. I am very appalled with the board's decision to say the least. ....Another thought just came to me. Will students graduating Summa Cum Laude give speeches at the commencement ceremony or did they abolish graduate speeches along with the old honor system?

It is killing me to not respond to this travesty!!!!!!!!!!! Or maybe I just did!!!!!!!!!!!