Do you think it's fair?

Question

To get rid of the honor roll in schools and all rewards, scholarships, and what nots because not all kids make As and Bs and feel left out?

I think its bad not to give hard working kids praise. Do you feel that way?

http://www.freewebs.com/newthinker/whatdouthink.htm?blogentryid=1171587

So, so far most of you agree with Guest's blog?
I did to.
Should Elle's mom switch schools?
I want to know what I should post on his blog.

Answer 1

This drives me insane ... I heard about this on the radio and thought it was a joke. A local town was going to stop posting the names of the honor role students because it was making the kids who didn't make it feel bad. Where is the motivation to do better if your not going to be recognized or rewarded for being the best.

In the real world the people who do the best, get the jobs, get raises and get promoted. Competition is a real world fact whether you like it or not. We wonder why the world (developed countries) is leaving us behind in education.

Can we please start motivating the kids that lag behind instead of punishing the ones that excel.

Answer 2

I think it can be handled fairly and with recognition for all kids. At my child's school they have awards for Principal's List which is all A's, Honor Roll is for all A's and B's - and any student who receives A's and B's or all A's for an entire semester - receives a letter from the Principal (mailed home to the student's attention) praising them for working hard and acheiving! At the end of the year, students who maybe made lower grades, but have really worked their tushes off to improve are also recognized for their improvements, even if they don't reach straight A's.

I think that children who make straight A's should be rewared and recognized - who says they're not working hard too? It's not easy to make straight A's - they've earned some recognition. But I think those who make less than straight A's but are also working hard to do their best should be recognized as well.

And I agree with the other answerer's here - why stop praising those who are acheiving? Why should we be so ready to lower the bar of expectation? That's a large part of the problem with people in our society - we're all becoming happy with less. If you've earned recognition, I think it should be given and serves as an example for what we should all be striving for.

Answer 3

My daughter works very hard to get A's and B's and should be recognized. Being left out sometimes is part of life. As a parent, you should give your child praise if you know they are trying their best.

I just read the blog. I dont think there should be an honor roll for kids that age. I dont think it should start until 4th/5th grade.

Answer 4

No, I don't think it is. My oldest son works hard to receive the grades that he gets and I think he deserves recognition for it. But on the other hand my youngest son doesn't have to try as hard to get the same grades. I think the schools should focus harder on keeping the kids who are doing better w/o the struggle, busy and out of trouble, and not take away f/ them the rewards they receive for doing well. Otherwise, they might not put in as much effort if they are only going to be treated like the children who aren't doing as well.

Answer 5

Not at all. The kids with the As worked hard to earn their honor roll status. My hs and middle school had honor roll for the B-C students and Principal's Honor Roll for the A-B students. More incentives came with the As such as ice cream socials, rewards, discounts, special functions.. Those who work hard deserve the titles. I'm sure the other kids work hard to, but not to their full potential.

Answer 6

I believe you get what you deserve. Its so hard to say if it should or shouldn't be done. And if it should start at a certain grade or not. But even having valid arguments in not enough many times.
I look back at mine from my beginning years of school and am so proud. I would be disappointed in my child didn't get the same changes and experiences as I.
We want them to work hard so this is one way of getting them to see what they are working hard for.
Words aren't always enough.
They say "Actions speak louder than words." So how would we be showing our kids this.
Just a trip to a restaurant isn't going to be enough to keep it going forever. That only last for so long.

Answer 7

It is completely fair that there are rewards for those who try hard and achieve good grades. Teachers also are aware of those who try hard and still have trouble. That's what extra help is for and if you need help and attend it, the teachers usually know that you need help and are actively looking for it. There is also always extra credit for those who need the extra boost in grades. That's how some of us make the honor roll.

Scholarships can be earned by anyone. Many of them are based on more things than just grades.

Answer 8

I think it's time we stop catering to the less fortunate and reward those working hard. Every child has the ability to achieve a good mark in school, just some have to work harder than others, but either way .. PRAISE a child when good is done.

Answer 9

I'm glad that isn't happening with my kid's schools. But then again - we also still have books in the school libraries about the birth of Christ too. And yes - they are in public schools.

That's the problem with the world today - the liberals want to remove anything that might make some kids or people feel superior. But by doing that, they are actually removing the motivation for those that don't get good grades. And how many of those kids don't get the best grades due to lack of effort, not due to lack of ability?

Answer 10

that is awful my boy works his butt off to get good grades and he is proud of being on the honor roll i push him and am one of thoes parents who keeps up with all he's doing in school where he needs help etc i make sure he does his homework and he can't do anything after school untill it's done so if his school were to take that from him i would be mad as hell it is not my fault that all parents arn't like this and it is not fair to punish the good hard working kids just because some slacking kids and parents feel left out if they feel so left out why don't they work harder and try to improve there grades probaly because it's not important to their parents kids learn what you teach them if you teach them not to try or not to do good then guess what they won't where i live if my son can remain on the honor roll for his entire school 3rd through 12th than he can go to our state college for free and that is his goal so if they try to take that from him they will be dealing with some mad mamma