Poof! Gone is our Middle School Honor Roll

[agnes!]

Our society in general is striving too hard to not hurt anyone's feelings
and not striving hard enough to encourage and reward success.​

What she said.
agnes!

 

[Anne12343]

I think that all of you people out there who want to flaunt your honor roll kids in front of those who don't make it should be ashamed of yourselves. I am a teacher. Fine. Let the honor roll kids exalt each other. But, don't let the "average" kids have to have it thrown in their faces. Keep them in the classroom with another teacher during the honor roll ceremony. I have kids who try so hard but are not honor roll. I do not want my babies upset because they watch most of the rest of the class get awards and they don't. That is so hurtful. One year I had one of my first graders put his head down on the table and cry his eyes out because he didn't get to go up to get an honor roll certificate. He did not understand what was going on, not at this age. Everyone came back and sat down with beaming faces, and he had nothing in his hand. Another student in second grade this year did the same thing. I think it's very cruel to do this to children. Some students try so hard, only to get average grades. Some have dyslexia and they really struggle. They never get over the embarassment and the feeling of low self worth.
Solution: Keep the ones who don't get honor roll in a classroom with a teacher, and have something for them to do. Don't make them feel worse than they already do. Some teachers say that if they go to the ceremony it gives them something to work for. Sorry, I don't agree. I have a little girl right now who is dyslexic. She struggles, only to get average grades. But, she is humble and gentle and sweet and gets along well with others. Contrast this to my TAG child who is not humble and thinks he knows everything. He does not know how to socialize with others and work as a team. Granted, the top kids may "have it all", but that's not all there is in life. Please, teachers and administration, think twice about putting those low children through that. I would not wish that on my worst enemy.

 

[agnes!]

Anne12343 -

Hmmmm... Your post is interesting but not for the obvious reasons. I'm just sitting here thinking that, yes this is the Community Board but it is on a Disney forum and your very first post here just *had* to be a on a resurrected thread from almost a year ago and just *had* to be about this...

agnes!

 

[Magpie]

I think that all of you people out there who want to flaunt your honor roll kids in front of those who don't make it should be ashamed of yourselves. I am a teacher. Fine. Let the honor roll kids exalt each other. But, don't let the "average" kids have to have it thrown in their faces. Keep them in the classroom with another teacher during the honor roll ceremony. I have kids who try so hard but are not honor roll. I do not want my babies upset because they watch most of the rest of the class get awards and they don't. That is so hurtful. One year I had one of my first graders put his head down on the table and cry his eyes out because he didn't get to go up to get an honor roll certificate. He did not understand what was going on, not at this age. Everyone came back and sat down with beaming faces, and he had nothing in his hand. Another student in second grade this year did the same thing. I think it's very cruel to do this to children. Some students try so hard, only to get average grades. Some have dyslexia and they really struggle. They never get over the embarassment and the feeling of low self worth.
Solution: Keep the ones who don't get honor roll in a classroom with a teacher, and have something for them to do. Don't make them feel worse than they already do. Some teachers say that if they go to the ceremony it gives them something to work for. Sorry, I don't agree. I have a little girl right now who is dyslexic. She struggles, only to get average grades. But, she is humble and gentle and sweet and gets along well with others. Contrast this to my TAG child who is not humble and thinks he knows everything. He does not know how to socialize with others and work as a team. Granted, the top kids may "have it all", but that's not all there is in life. Please, teachers and administration, think twice about putting those low children through that. I would not wish that on my worst enemy.

I feel sorrier for your TAG kid. He doesn't need someone to "put him in his place". He needs someone to help him with those social skills. He does not "have it all".

Your dyslexic kid (who, by the way, might just as smart as your TAG kid or even smarter - dyslexia has nothing to do with intelligence), has all the best advantages. She already knows how to play well with other children and she's likable, so she will always have friends and supporters and people who love her.

All kids need support, not just sweet ones.

P.S. First post? On a dead thread? And do you really refer to your students as "your babies"?

 

[taximomfor4]

Gonna respond to an ancient thread, just because I'm stuck inside with a bad headache today.

I think our middle school might have a certificate at the end of the year, if that. Honestly, I spend a lot of time and effort teaching my kids about INTRINSIC reward. I don't care WHAT the school does/doesn't do...my kids are to learn how to challenge and reward themselves from within. I know over the years some Pizza Hut certificates and some others have come home for whatever (reading enough books or something and some other reasons). We don't even use them.

I will throw out the household motto (which my oldest, especially, winces at, lol)..."Natural Consequences, Natural Reward."

I wouldn't know if they kids' names were in the paper for Honor Roll, either -- we don't get a newspaper. MIL did find my oldest's name in the paper for graduating High School with Honors (or something like that), and cut it out for us. I think dd put it in her photo album. Or not.

 

[PRmamiDEdos]

I think that all of you people out there who want to flaunt your honor roll kids in front of those who don't make it should be ashamed of yourselves. I am a teacher. Fine. Let the honor roll kids exalt each other. But, don't let the "average" kids have to have it thrown in their faces. Keep them in the classroom with another teacher during the honor roll ceremony. I have kids who try so hard but are not honor roll. I do not want my babies upset because they watch most of the rest of the class get awards and they don't. That is so hurtful. One year I had one of my first graders put his head down on the table and cry his eyes out because he didn't get to go up to get an honor roll certificate. He did not understand what was going on, not at this age. Everyone came back and sat down with beaming faces, and he had nothing in his hand. Another student in second grade this year did the same thing. I think it's very cruel to do this to children. Some students try so hard, only to get average grades. Some have dyslexia and they really struggle. They never get over the embarassment and the feeling of low self worth.
Solution: Keep the ones who don't get honor roll in a classroom with a teacher, and have something for them to do. Don't make them feel worse than they already do. Some teachers say that if they go to the ceremony it gives them something to work for. Sorry, I don't agree. I have a little girl right now who is dyslexic. She struggles, only to get average grades. But, she is humble and gentle and sweet and gets along well with others. Contrast this to my TAG child who is not humble and thinks he knows everything. He does not know how to socialize with others and work as a team. Granted, the top kids may "have it all", but that's not all there is in life. Please, teachers and administration, think twice about putting those low children through that. I would not wish that on my worst enemy.

Please, my son is ADD, can't focus in class and doesn't always make it on the honor roll (he got student of the month ONCE). Does this mean I shouldn't subject him to awards ceremonies? No. He has to learn, yes, you may have a "disability", but that means you just need to work a little harder and in the end the rewards will be greater. Learning that not everyone gets the same things in life is a lesson in itself.

 

[cm8]

Thanks so much for the answers so far, and the nice tones -- I just realized I asked a child raising question on the DIS! Could have been scary

I forgot to add one of the main reason for getting rid of the Honor Roll is the stress it places on the students. Middle School is so stressful with all the changes happening to their bodies and friends, etc. This was said in front of all the kids and parents. Now I could see some students trying to decide if they should be offended or use this as a reason not to clean their bedrooms!

Our principal also made this sound like an item hotly debated in the education world -- they must keep that world pretty secret because I can't find much pro or con online.

,

 

[arminnie]

I think that all of you people out there who want to flaunt your honor roll kids in front of those who don't make it should be ashamed of yourselves. I am a teacher. Fine. Let the honor roll kids exalt each other. But, don't let the "average" kids have to have it thrown in their faces. Keep them in the classroom with another teacher during the honor roll ceremony. I have kids who try so hard but are not honor roll. I do not want my babies upset because they watch most of the rest of the class get awards and they don't. That is so hurtful. One year I had one of my first graders put his head down on the table and cry his eyes out because he didn't get to go up to get an honor roll certificate. He did not understand what was going on, not at this age. Everyone came back and sat down with beaming faces, and he had nothing in his hand. Another student in second grade this year did the same thing. I think it's very cruel to do this to children. Some students try so hard, only to get average grades. Some have dyslexia and they really struggle. They never get over the embarassment and the feeling of low self worth.
Solution: Keep the ones who don't get honor roll in a classroom with a teacher, and have something for them to do. Don't make them feel worse than they already do. Some teachers say that if they go to the ceremony it gives them something to work for. Sorry, I don't agree. I have a little girl right now who is dyslexic. She struggles, only to get average grades. But, she is humble and gentle and sweet and gets along well with others. Contrast this to my TAG child who is not humble and thinks he knows everything. He does not know how to socialize with others and work as a team. Granted, the top kids may "have it all", but that's not all there is in life. Please, teachers and administration, think twice about putting those low children through that. I would not wish that on my worst enemy.

Please that is just ridiculous. I was the student that won everything. Outstanding Physics, Math, etc. My grade point was well over 4.0 because of honors classes. Practically perfect SATs. Degrees from fabulous schools.

My brother three years younger barely made Cs. Never got an award in his life. But guess which one of us is the billionaire with estates on multiple continents. He was not the least bit handicapped by not getting some worthless piece of paper.

I earned the "awards", but he earned the money. Didn't hurt him one bit.

 

[MrsPete]

This is very misguided.

The gotta-give-everyone-a-certificate assumes that school is the only place where kids are rewarded for their achievements. My kid DOES get an Honor Roll certificate every semester -- she's an academic kid. Other kids get to sing solos in church on Sundays, and they receive lots of praise for that -- my kid will never do that, and it doesn't hurt her a bit to see others rewarded for what they can do. Other kids are stars on the football field every Friday night, and they get loads of attention around school for their abilities -- my kid will never do that, and she's not crying because that's not her thing. The list could go on: someone's going to star in the play, someone's going to be named yearbook editor, someone's going to win a ribbon at the county fair, someone's going to be the star of the Quiz Bowl team, someone's going to train his own horse, someone's going to make the cheerleading squad, someone's going to be made assistant manager at his job while he's a high school junior, someone's going to write a poem that'll be published . . . again, the list could go on.

Hopefully parents all seek out avenues in which their kids CAN be successful, can earn honest praise, and can feel that they've done well. Trying to make the classroom that place for each and every student is dishonest and -- in the long run -- hurts everyone's opinion of the process.

It's not about effort put in. It's about success and achievement. To borrow from the above examples, my daughter could sing her very, very best . . . and the pastor still isn't going to pick her to sing the solo in church. To focus on the fact that she can't do that just takes away from the girl who CAN do that well.

 

[PRmamiDEdos]

There's an HBO special that I think the parents who's children have problems seeing other children succeed should watch. It's a documentary called "I Can't Do This, But I Can Do That". Find the thing that your child excels at so they can feel good about themselves.

 

[allison443]

This is very misguided.

The gotta-give-everyone-a-certificate assumes that school is the only place where kids are rewarded for their achievements. My kid DOES get an Honor Roll certificate every semester -- she's an academic kid. Other kids get to sing solos in church on Sundays, and they receive lots of praise for that -- my kid will never do that, and it doesn't hurt her a bit to see others rewarded for what they can do. Other kids are stars on the football field every Friday night, and they get loads of attention around school for their abilities -- my kid will never do that, and she's not crying because that's not her thing. The list could go on: someone's going to star in the play, someone's going to be named yearbook editor, someone's going to win a ribbon at the county fair, someone's going to be the star of the Quiz Bowl team, someone's going to train his own horse, someone's going to make the cheerleading squad, someone's going to be made assistant manager at his job while he's a high school junior, someone's going to write a poem that'll be published . . . again, the list could go on.

Hopefully parents all seek out avenues in which their kids CAN be successful, can earn honest praise, and can feel that they've done well. Trying to make the classroom that place for each and every student is dishonest and -- in the long run -- hurts everyone's opinion of the process.

It's not about effort put in. It's about success and achievement. To borrow from the above examples, my daughter could sing her very, very best . . . and the pastor still isn't going to pick her to sing the solo in church. To focus on the fact that she can't do that just takes away from the girl who CAN do that well.

I agree! It's a school, for goodness' sake! That's where academic achievement should be honored!

 

[palavra]

I understood honor roll in elementary school.

Your middle school policy is silly.

Our society in general is striving too hard to not hurt anyone's feelings and not striving hard enough to encourage and reward success.

I do agree with this, for the most part. I reallylike what our middle school does. We give a gold, silver, bronze and merit award. The merit award is in recognition of hard work and not just a reflection of grades.

 

[Anne12343]

This is in response to Magpie. As a matter of fact, that's the first time I have mentioned my students as "babies." And, you can keep your opinion to yourself about what I said. I've been teaching for 28 years, and I've seen those who go to honor roll ceremonies and don't get awards. It only makes them feel bad that they didn't get the awards or all the perks that come with them. So, I think I have enough experience to know what I'm talking about. Try being in the classroom for just one day. You'll see.

 

[Anne12343]

Magpie, let me add this. These children have plenty of time to find out who are going to get all the awards and who are not. They will find that out soon enough. But, when they are in first and second grade, they don't understand. They all have their own abilities. Give some rewards to those children who are not on honor roll. Good conduct awards are important, too. Find out their talents and give awards for those. As a matter of fact, kids can have D and F in conduct and still get honor roll. Give me a break.

Keep the non-honor roll children in a classroom with another teacher so they don't have to be subjected to the embarrassment in front of the other kids. They have plenty of time for that.

 

[Anne12343]

Magpie, I will also say I know exactly what dyslexia is. I have taught those children for 28 years. You can't be stupid and be dyslexic.

 

[Anne12343]

Sorry for the posts. This is the first time I've been on here. I really didn't really realize it was Disney until I got registered for it.

 

[Anne12343]

By the way,my school has 50 teachers. They expend 2 hours gathering data, creating and distributing honor roll certificates 4 times a year. Add it up. That's 400 man hours. If teachers get paid at at, say, $20/hour, that's $8000.

Now,that's the cost side for just one school.

Would somebody please give me the benefit side of this equation?

 

[Anne12343]

By the way,my school has 50 teachers. They expend 2 hours gathering data, creating and distributing honor roll certificates 4 times a year. Add it up. That's 400 man hours. If teachers get paid at at, say, $20/hour, that's $8000.

Now,that's the cost side for just one school. Multiply that by 50 other schools in the district, and that's $40,000.

Would somebody please give me the benefit side of this equation?

 

[disneychrista]

I am reading this thread going WOW how can they even have done semester grades already. Then I realize that the thread is from last January...

 

[manning]

In today's progressive society everyone has to made to feel good. No disappointments allowed. Thank god we didn't have this attitude in Thomas Edison's day. He would have quit after his first failure. He realized he had more failures than successes but kept going.

He held over 1300 US and foreign patents.

To never fail is to never succeed.