Using `<option selected="...">` is the standard way to set a value on a `<select>` component. Yet, React uses another convention: http://facebook.github.io/react/docs/forms.html#why-select-value We should add a warning when the value is being set on the `<option>` and tell the developer to put `value` on the `<select>` in DEV. Example: http://jsfiddle.net/vjeux/LT6Bw/