A Student needs some help: Fighting the school to take the ACT

[Scooter24]

A friend of mine who is a senior in high school is planning on taking the ACT in October so he can apply for early decision to his first-choice college. The October test is the final testing date that will make the early decision deadline. However, he is in marching band as well and they have scheduled a major competition on the testing day without regard to the students who might want to take it. Now the director is saying that those students who do not attend will receive a no-show grade for the competition and it will reflect in their grades. Normally, he would have just said "to hell with it" and just take the test, but he has been a straight-A student all through high school and it would crush him to get a "B" in marching band, ruining his 4.0 high school average just because he wanted to take the ACT. He is quite upset about this and the Vice-Principle was not any help on Friday as he sided with the director. To summarize, the Vice-Principle said that because the test was not a "school sponsored" test (he's testing at a local junior college) and that he had voluntarily entered into marching band, an extracurricular, on his own will that he is liable to attend the competitions which is a requirement of that class and in the student "contract" that he has to sign at band camp in the summer. It is also past the deadline to drop the class. He is meeting with the Principle when he returns on Tuesday but he or myself does not know how to approach this. Has anyone here, parents or students, experienced any trouble with the school administration over taking the ACT/SAT?

[Obamarama]

1. This is ridiculous....

I was heavily involved in music in HS and I certainly understand where the band director is coming from. That being said, I cannot believe the director would stand in the way of someone taking an academic test to apply for college. I could understand if your friend was trying to get excused to go on a family trip or some other reason that might be viewed with suspicion.

Furthermore, I'm not aware that ACT tests are ever "school sponsored." It's an individual choice. The vice-pirinciple's observation is moot. In other words, it's a cop out.

Do you know if your friend's parents are active in the band boosters, or any of their freinds? If so, they should let the director they don't think your friend should be forced to choose between his future and a competition.

I would also make sure the school board is familiar with the situation also. Extracurricular activities are important, and students need to be committed, but c'mon...this shouldn't even be an issue.

IF nothing an be done to dissuade Herr Band Direktor, then I would advise your friend to bow out on the competition and take the test. He should not give in to unreasonable thinking. His future is more important than making some band competition. If he's a straight A student, then I doubt this one "hit" will significantly lower his GPA.

Let us know what happens.

[democrat in Tallahassee]

2. The ACT is not on-line yet? THe GRE is and you can take it

whenever you damn well feel like it.

[GiovanniC]

3. Principal, Superintendent, School Board, Media

In that order. And let each one know what your next steps will be if you don't get satisfaction.

[Cheswick2.0]

4. first he should check and see if there are other dates for the test

and that would settle the dispute. If not, he can contact the board of education and superintendant and make his case with them. Or perhaps an accademic Dean or guidance counselor should be contacted first. All of these people should be advocate for the student and find a solution that satisfies everyone.
Is your friend one of 10 trumpets or will he really be missed?

[TheCentepedeShoes]

5. If I were your friend

and I had exhausted all remedies (another test date, no help from school, etc) I think I'd try to look at the big picture. Which is going to be more important in the long run - a year from now, five years - a B in band for one grading period or getting into my first choice college.

[Scooter24]

7. I thought of the same thing.

But he is one of the top 3 in his class and is a candidate for Valedictorian. Granted, it's not something he is actively seeking, but he thinks it's pretty shitty that the school or his director would not make an exception for him and that his chances for the high honor would be ruined by something so trivial.

[DebinTx]

6. My son has the same problem

although not with band but with the UIL math team. He's going to take the SAT instead. They have tests dates in October, November and December.

[Scooter24]

8. He is...

...applying to several Ivy league schools as well as a handful of public universities and picked Yale as his first-choice school, which also happens to be his father's and grandfather's alma-matter. On his application, it says that the October ACT test will be the last test available for those students wishing to apply for early decision, which is what he wants to do. He did take the SAT I, and did incredibly well, but the school also requires either two SAT II subject tests or the ACT.

I was on my school's UIL math team as well. I did 'number sense' and 'calculator skills' in 7th and 8th grade. I got first in the district both years doing calculator skills. To this day my mother is still quick to call me when she needs to figure out how to operate her TI calculator.