ukintexas

Me and hubby could not believe a story we heard the other night on hour local news (Houston, TX). We know the US is litigious, but this is ridiculous:

Father used to attend a private school here. Has been part of them alumni (whatever the heck that means a I still don't get what that means other than that he was a past student), and as such as donated $40,000 over the last few years to various things at the school.

Son goes to take entrance exam and fails and is therefore denied admission. Father goes nuts and decides he's suing the school citing that his $40,000 "donations" should have given an automatic spot to his son. WTF?

Does he mean "bribe" rather than "donation"??? How on earth can he sue under such cirumstances? We were dumbfounded. Thought I'd share to see what you all thought, and if there's any other stupid legal stories like this.

Bob

He obviously didn't donate enough

Giantaxe

The sad thing is that donating $$$ to many American private universities will get your children a place at that institution. So full marks to this school not to allow itself to be bribed. Many US universities also give preference to "legacy" admissions, another disgraceful practice imo:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legacy_preferences

cindyabs

I'm not trying to be a smart ass, but in the UK would you replace the term legacy, with the term tradition as to the attendance at a particular university? Is it only on merit then, as opposed to a position in the upper class strata thereby granting you admission?

Me, I'm all for attending wherever will suit your career field best, not your social standing.

Thydney

Well lets face it if you aren't a Royal you won't get into Oxbridge with two 'E's in your A levels

bevinva

My sister got in with a D, some of the other students were pissed off.

neil

A friend of mine did the Oxford entrance exam, got a place, and then slacked off on his A levels. He still got the place on merit though as I'm sure the entrance exam was not easy.

Thydney

I'm aware of similar 'low' acceptances they usually are made to bright students. My point was thick feckers like the royals get the place because they are royal

chartreuse

They told me I'd need 3 As, a B and a C. Proof positive that I'm far from posh.

rivit

The father's right in this case, this is America, what did the school think the 'donations' were for, FFS.

Thydney

lol a lot younger than me too it was 3 'A's when I looked at it

Manc

you mean like go in the army a private and come out 3 years later a general?

Desdemona

What's all the fuss It's done in all over the world. Many private schools will take donations to admit a student especially if the father/mother is an old boy or old girl. Right wrong or indifferent, it's traditional ....

Kaffy Mintcake

Do you view it as an obligation though? Do you think the father has the right to sue? I feel bad for his kid, the dad is clearly an idiot.

Desdemona

It shoudn't be. But the parents of kids that attend these schools are loaded anyway. So why not help the school along. Pays for stuff like a new swimming pool or gym or whatever they are planning to put in for the school as an example ....

As for the father of the kid.... dunno. It might have been quite a shock. Or maybe the donation wasn't large enough by todays standards Who knows ? Rather than sue (litigation is costly) he might have tried offering a larger donation It's the way these things work. The man is clearly an idiot