Extra Credit

The Washington Township Board of Education is considering a change that would make it a little tougher for students to get extra credit after completing advanced courses. The change was approved on first reading June 26 and is up for approval at the board's scheduled meeting on July 24. If the policy is approved, students would have to score a 70 - the minimum for a grade of D - in their honors classes to have those courses weighted in their class standing. Weighted courses are those judged more difficult than most and are given greater consideration when figuring class standing in grades eight through 12 in the district.

There are two reasons why Rob Kane, 17, found himself participating in an antiabortion protest outside a Planned Parenthood clinic last week with 80 other students from his Catholic high school. "One reason is because I think abortion should be stopped," said Kane, a junior at Archbishop Wood High School in Warminster, Bucks County. "And also because I got the 10 points. I'm trying to get my grades up and get into a good college. " Kane's morality-class teacher, June Littel, had offered her class extra credit - 10 bonus points on the next test - to stand along Louis Drive, pray the rosary, and wave signs reading "Abortion Kills Children" at passing vehicles for about an hour after school.

Dana Brown is only 15, but she's already made a big contribution to America's consumers. The Levittown girl, as part of a science and math project when she was in ninth grade, was seeking extra credit by trying to find a mislabeled product. She went to her local supermarket and found a package of 12 Weight Watchers Chocolate Mousse ice-cream bars. The package said it contained "net wt. [weight] 21 fl. oz. [fluid ounces]. The Roosevelt Junior High School student wrote a letter to the company that markets the ice cream, Eskimo Pie Corp.

David Stamm, 16, isn't very interested in theater, but he was interested in boosting his English average. So at the suggestion of his teacher - who is also the drama coach at Council Rock South High School - Stamm and many other students bought $6 tickets to see a student production of Barefoot in the Park by Neil Simon. In exchange, each got 10 extra-credit points. Stamm's father, Bruce Stamm, didn't like the deal. "You've got teachers there selling grades," he said.

A. Extra credit for his perfect game. B. Very good, but not great. C. He seems to be giving up more hits lately.

Extra credit for student protest at clinic I applaud the actions of the morality teachers at Archbishop Wood High School for encouraging their students to live out the beliefs they are being sent to that school to learn ("Students take to the streets for cause - and extra credit," Feb. 15). First, let's keep it in perspective. Ten points on a single test likely amounts to credit for two to three questions in an entire semester. Second, why is it wrong to encourage teenagers at a faith-based school to give several extracurricular hours in order to gain an experience in activism?

THE SESSION just recessed by City Council wasn't the worst in history, but it can't be chalked up as stellar. The city budget got resolved, but we can't shake the feeling that the biggest motivator for resolution was more the fear of having to forfeit deposits on summer rentals than it was policy urgency. Now that Council is at the beach, it's worth singling out at least one worthwhile law that got passed: a bill that authorizes the Historic Commission to designate interior portions of buildings as historic.

It's not the money, it's the principle that has Cleveland closer Chris Perez riled. He's considering appealing a $750 fine from Major League Baseball for posting what they call a "reckless" message on his Twitter account after batters for both the Indians and Royals were hit by pitches, touching off two bench-clearing tussles last Saturday in Kansas City. To wit: "Huge team win tonight; time for a sweep to tell the Royals it's not 'Our Time', it's #TribeTime. P.S. You hit us, we hit you. Period.

PARIS - Andy Roddick's preparation for this French Open was hardly traditional. Or ideal, from a purely tennis perspective, anyway. He skipped a clay-court event in Rome so he could celebrate his 1-year wedding anniversary with his wife, Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover model Brooklyn Decker. He missed another tuneup tournament in Madrid because of a stomach virus. Scrambling to get set, Roddick played a couple of hastily arranged exhibitions and practiced a bunch at Roland Garros with fellow pro Mardy Fish, a pal since high school.

It's not the money, it's the principle that has Cleveland closer Chris Perez riled. He's considering appealing a $750 fine from Major League Baseball for posting what they call a "reckless" message on his Twitter account after batters for both the Indians and Royals were hit by pitches, touching off two bench-clearing tussles last Saturday in Kansas City. To wit: "Huge team win tonight; time for a sweep to tell the Royals it's not 'Our Time', it's #TribeTime. P.S. You hit us, we hit you. Period.

MAYBE ONE of these days, baseball commissioner Bud Selig's special advisory committee to improve the game, of which Phillies president Dave Montgomery is a member, will propose some innovative way to reward extraordinary performances in the postseason. It could be decreed, say, that if a team scores 20 runs in a playoff game or pitches a no-hitter that the win shall count for two (2) wins instead of the customary one (1). Until then, however, the reality is that no matter how dominant, masterful, amazing, awesome, wondrous, splendid, astounding, astonishing, brilliant, overwhelming, staggering, breathtaking, commanding, mind-boggling and/or stupefying Roy Halladay's effort against the Reds on Wednesday may have been - pick your favorite adjective - the Phillies are no better off than if it had been an otherwise unremarkable, routine victory.

A. Extra credit for his perfect game. B. Very good, but not great. C. He seems to be giving up more hits lately.

PARIS - Andy Roddick's preparation for this French Open was hardly traditional. Or ideal, from a purely tennis perspective, anyway. He skipped a clay-court event in Rome so he could celebrate his 1-year wedding anniversary with his wife, Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover model Brooklyn Decker. He missed another tuneup tournament in Madrid because of a stomach virus. Scrambling to get set, Roddick played a couple of hastily arranged exhibitions and practiced a bunch at Roland Garros with fellow pro Mardy Fish, a pal since high school.

THE SESSION just recessed by City Council wasn't the worst in history, but it can't be chalked up as stellar. The city budget got resolved, but we can't shake the feeling that the biggest motivator for resolution was more the fear of having to forfeit deposits on summer rentals than it was policy urgency. Now that Council is at the beach, it's worth singling out at least one worthwhile law that got passed: a bill that authorizes the Historic Commission to designate interior portions of buildings as historic.

What it means, and why it's a good thing:   We used to call it "regionalism. " But, these days, that word comes with baggage: While some make it their life's work (like the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission), others dismiss it as a goal, and many are just tired of hearing the word. But in a new age of energy and sustainability and the need to "silo-bust," the idea that communities can achieve more by working together than by acting like islands has never been more relevant.

On a trip to Philadelphia with the San Diego Padres two weeks ago, Greg Maddux surveyed his career and said, "I've been on extra credit for five or six years now. " During the Atlanta Braves' visit to Citizens Bank Park last week, Tom Glavine said that while he'd like to pitch beyond this season, he was uncertain if his body would allow him to. A few lockers away, John Smoltz was more direct when asked if this could be his last season....

Greg Maddux makes his fourth attempt for career win No. 350 today at Florida. Maddux, one of the most unassuming pro athletes ever, isn't obsessing about the mark. "It's not a milestone," the 42-year-old pitcher said. "I've been on extra credit for five or six years now. I just try to pitch and see how good I can be on that night and that's it. " . . . Padres lefty Randy Wolf after pitching against his former mates Thursday night: "I know these hitters, but they are all a lot better now. Chase [Utley]

AUGUSTA, Ga. - What in the name of Amen Corner have they gone and done to the Masters? Through the decades, it has been the most captivating of the majors. You could always count on it to provide plenty of birdies and even, heaven forbid, eagles. It was possible to go low, as they like to say. Names like Hogan and Snead, then Palmer and Nicklaus, and later Faldo and Woods, pretty much cornered the market on that green-jacket concession. So, where's the beef? Now, par has become not only an acceptable score, but a favorable one. Pardon me, but isn't that supposed to be the U.S. Open's line?

The drumbeat cut through the silence of the autumn night as the ceremony began. The tribes stood on top of the hill, overlooking the bonfire. Clad in leather and furs, their tribal costumes, they had gathered at the sound of the drum. The orange flames pierced the darkness, illuminating the dozens of spectators. Following the drummer, the tribes descended, circling the fire beneath their distinct banners as the king took his seat on his throne. This was the scene at Valley Forge Military College in Wayne the night of Nov. 14. A tribal ceremony around a bonfire?