Last night the wife and I went to our daughter's school to get a year end progress report. We, and all the other parents, were told there would no longer be a grade school honor roll printed in the local paper because it's not fair to the kids that didn't make it. I was steamed. Now we can't acknowledge what our kids achieve academically?
Then for my daughter's b-day party she could not pass out invites in class. They had to be mailed, so as not to hurt feelings of the uninvited. This is up there with everyone gets a card on Valentine's Day. Argh!
Also the other day my daughter participated in some competitons at school... and came home with a "participant ribbon". EVERYONE gets a ribbon!
BUT... the real world doesn't work like this. Better they find that out now then when they graduate high school or college.
Am I just too much of a hard @ss? When I was a kid I survived not getting cards or ribbons. It's a part of life.
How do you fell about this issue?
2006-06-15 01:46:58 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Other - Education
Yeah, the biggest issue is how shocked and traumatized kids will get after school's out for good. They won't get accepted to every college, they won't get every job they apply for, every loan, every house, every date... it's madness.
Band-Aids on broken arms, yo. Educators can't be parents, but they can certainly do more to compliment those values parents should be instilling in their children: hard work, honesty, perserverence, team work, etc. It's a strong and moral system of values that needs to be taught, not ribbons for participation (especially when it's mandatory) and graduation ceremonies for every grade level.
It reflects America's zealous focus on matierialism that kids now need ribbons and ceremonies and can't be satisfied with virtues that are ends in and of themselves.
2006-06-15 01:56:43 · answer #1 · answered by ishotvoltron 5 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Participation ribbons are good. It really doesn't mark any achievement- but in life participation is 99% of success too.
Honor rolls are good. I would speak to the principal and rally some PTA help with that one.
Being sensitive about b-day invites is good- but I like a reminder to be sensitive rather than a mandate on what must be done.
Valentines to the whole class is good- it teaches to be nice to everyone, at least on that one day.
For the most part I agree with you. It does our children a disservice to not be more honest, although every kid deserves to feel worthy and special in their own ways too.
My personal experience with this was a ridiculous spelling bee. When children (my daughter just finished 4th) mispelled- the grand puba/helper/guidance counselor didn't say "I'm sorry, that's wrong," she looked into the audience grief stricken & whined "Do we have a mother here?" Every kid went off crying. Ridiculous. My daughter was upset but didn't run out of the room like every other kid out before her- I stood up and motioned for her to sit with me and watch the rest. Duh.
2006-06-15 01:55:02 · answer #2 · answered by Simply_Renee 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Kids are teased and bullied everyday at school, I agree with you on all points with the exception of the b-day invites, that's a Private thing and maybe you could have done them a little differently. If kids are doing good in school they should receive some kind of honor for it, it will encourage better grades
2006-06-15 01:55:38 · answer #3 · answered by Granny 1 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No if you go to work is everyone the boss NO one person gets that title and they worked for it. I think the Political Correctness has gone to far. Contact your local news agency and make a big stink. Get a petition going. It is completely fair to award thoes students who worked hard to achieve the very best!
2006-06-15 01:50:55 · answer #4 · answered by xx_muggles_xx 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
in a way i get what you mean, but isnt it the childs choice weather the grades get published into the local paper, and for the valentines thing argh i so know what u mean, would it bother u if u didnt get an invite or a valentines day card?? na it wunt me, dont kids jus ask face to face if they wanna go to a party?? how old is your daughter by the way? please IM me
2006-06-15 01:51:37 · answer #5 · answered by walter19882003 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tree suffer storms and get stronger. No wonder we have young adults on prozac and ridilin(sp). Thanks God my Dad spanked me in such a way that today, he would be reported to CPS. I destroyed a neighbor's garden. I respected everyone's property after that for sure!
Ribbons are rewards given for exceptional performance. They can give a bland one for participation, I think that's ok. Only one should get the big pretty one though.
2006-06-15 01:54:52 · answer #6 · answered by madbaldscotsman 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that sort of behavior (on the part of schools and organizations) really causes harm. I think it is "anti-excellence" -if you will. If EVERYONE gets an award (because the powers-that-be feel bad for those who don't receive one) then it takes away from the achievement of those who actually earned the award.
2006-06-15 01:58:25 · answer #7 · answered by Toolooroo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with you why dont we wrap them in cotton wool now .I live in the UK and my kids are grown up now but it is much the same over hear, no running races or sports days etc,these kids wont know whats hit them if ever they reach the real world
2006-06-15 01:52:07 · answer #8 · answered by dumplingmuffin 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think womens rights movements in the 60's pretty much doomed america. Yes, we protect everyones "Feelings" too much. People need to learn from reality.
2006-06-15 01:48:46 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
that is more of the educational systems way of telling you they are going to try and do even less teaching. how can you rate a system that has no way of evaluating it? they are not afraid of what grades will do to your children. they are afraid grades will show the lack of teaching ability
2006-06-15 01:51:39 · answer #10 · answered by dude 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋