Brains over the mediocre
Few months ago, upon the deadline for the filing of the certificates of candidacy for the coming May 2013 elections, I wrote, in this column, my ideal mixture of officials to compose the incoming Sangguniang Panlungsod of Cebu City. In reaction to that article, a reader asked me to justify my selection.
To be truthful, I had no particular candidate or candidates in mind. It was purely an impersonal suggestion on the character and quality of personalities I should choose for city councilors. And I do recall committing to write some specifics as the elections draw nearer.
Two weeks from today, the campaign period will begin. This early, I am adopting some parameters when considering the candidates to vote for. These parameters are brain and heart. Today, I will dwell on the first parameter, then on Sunday, the second.
In my search, the candidates who graduated with honors in college shall be my preference. Are there summa cum laudes, magna cum laudes and cum laudes among them?
Our educational system provides a consistent way of measuring the mental capacities of students. There is a series of examinations administered in every semester of college studies. Some schools schedule two such tests, namely mid term and finals while others give four - the prelims, the mid terms, the semifinals and the finals.
In addition to test results, class standings are also determined by the performances of students in oral recitations and unannounced quizzes. When the semester comes to an end, the teachers calculate carefully all the data at hand. These average grades per semester are tabulated at the end of the fourth or fifth year of college work. This is indeed, a failsafe system. Naturally, when a student graduates from his college degree with honors, he is the cream of the crop.
Here is where my subjective and personal bias lies. Using that parameter, I will be on the look out for the scholastic achievers among the candidates. My highest prospects are not determined by the political affiliation neither by friendly relations. They shall get my vote those candidates who are able to demonstrate that their college courses are marked with awesome grades.
The brilliant students, professors admit, are relentlessly studious. They are not at ease with okay because to them okay is, more often, not far from mediocrity. In fact, when they encounter anything that looks good, they always ask if there is something better and when better is at hand, they work their butts out for the best there is to find. Yes, the bright ones are unafraid to pursue the limits of their thoughts even at the pain of some personal discomfort. It is remarkable that their espousal of the correct and the truth far exceeds that of the ordinary mortal.
We complain that the policies by which our government is run are not very well thought of, meaning, mediocre. Let us take as an example the ordinance passed by the city council that directs that whatever proceeds there may be realized from the sale of SRP lots should be used exclusively to improve the SRP. A mediocre mind authored it. Had there been a bright guy in the sanggunian when this measure was discussed, it could have been exposed as immoral and unworthy of approval. A local legislator with a sharp mind could have seen its utter disservice. Why would the families in the middle and lower middle echelons of our society be denied from enjoying such benefits as could be paid for by the revenues generated from selling the SRP when they also paid for the reclamation?
To be sure, not all academic achievers are good leaders. It is true that there are few average students who, in the pursuit of their professions, prove to be better than those who graduate with honors. But, believe me, finding a needle in a haystack is easier than identifying them. The undisputable rule is that scholars are better equipped to find notable solutions to the more nagging problems of our people compared to those with so-so grades. And so, this coming election, I will bet on them. I hope you, too, in the best interest of our city, will.
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