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[minkydog]

Help me here...last week my DD17 texted me all excited because she had been named a Student of Excellence--well, yay! She has worked extraordinarily hard this year to pass Algebra 2(finally! It only took 4 semesters!) Today I got a flyer about the so-called Excellence program, as follows:

"This program is designed to seek out those students who have the drive and fortitude for academic success by adhering to and respecting the rules and policies of school. These students are the driving forece that creates an enriched environment for learning to spread our culture of excellence."

Okay. You wanna know what the requirements are? Read on...

*Has not had in-school or out-of-school suspension this semester
*Has <5 unexcused tardies
*Has only excused absences
*Follows the rules, meets deadlines, and adheres to protocals

I'm sitting here scratching my head. Aren't our kids *supposed* to be doing these things? So now we're giving a prize for showing up and doing our work?

I'm kinda disgusted. I mean, I'm proud of my DD of course. She goes to school, does her work, manages her time well, and finds time to be involved in extra school activities. But she doesn't need an award for that. Her reward should be a sense of pride & confidence in herself. She's senior. The time for fluffing a student should be way past by now.

Student of excellence, indeed.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Hey, I am just happy to hear she passed Algebra!

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Aren't our kids *supposed* to be doing these things? So now we're giving a prize for showing up and doing our work?

I guess it depends on your district

 

[minkydog]

Hey, I am just happy to hear she passed Algebra!

Yeah, well, there is that.

 

[PatsMom]

Its great news that she passed Algebra! But I have to agree that creating an "award" for what should just be expected behavior is a bit much.

 

[FireDancer]

Sadly the bar keeps getting lowered more and more so that what used to be normal is now viewed as extraordinary. A great example I've seen of this is when schools or systems brag about 80% of their kids being in AP class or on the honor roll. All that says to me is their curriculum is far too easy.

All of those things you listed should just be the norm and were when I was in high school a whole 14 years ago.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Our district has a Student of the Month, where one student in the school is featured on a display board in the hallway. They pick one student based on recommendations from teachers, and the student does have to meet certain criteria.

It sounds like this is similar.

 

[minkydog]

Sadly the bar keeps getting lowered more and more so that what used to be normal is now viewed as extraordinary. A great example I've seen of this is when schools or systems brag about 80% of their kids being in AP class or on the honor roll. All that says to me is their curriculum is far too easy.

All of those things you listed should just be the norm and were when I was in high school a whole 14 years ago.

Well, that's what I was thinking. We got ourselves up, fed & dressed ourselves, found our way to school EVERY day and on time, behaved in class, did our work, and at the end of the day we walked our butts home and did our homework without prompting because that was our job! My parents would have not have been happy if someone gave me an award for doing what I was supposed to be doing anyway (and I didn't get an allowance either,for the very same reason!)

 

[hereyago]

Congrats to your DD passing Algebra 2- I recall your previous posts about her plight with it(math is so not my bag either).

We live in the PC world now, we don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. Up until middle school, they had these "good citizenship" awards, basically if the kid wasn't too bad, they would get an award.

Now in middle school, students and teachers vote on who they think exceeds the "good behavoir" and helps other students, so not everyone gets an award for doing what they are "SUPPOSED" to be doing.

 

[Northstar]

Think of it not as a competitive award but as a little gesture of recognition... "we notice and appreciate your hard work and cooperation, and it makes a difference to the school."

From the school's point of view, the more kids that are eligible, the better. If 95% of the student body qualifies for the award, that doesn't cheapen the award... it means that the school can get on with offering a good education because the students are working to create a good learning environment.

I don't think it's a bad thing to say "thanks" and offer a little positive reinforcement to the good kids who are making an effort. As long as everyone understands what the award is... not MVP, but good team player!

 

[Grand Duke]

things like this are kind of BS and never mean anything anyway, just celebrate the algebra

 

[Swank]

Yes students should be expected to do all these things, but think about it this way. There are many students who are not ever going to be on the Honor Roll, they may never be good at a sport. This honors those who put in the work and will not get any other credit.
I was one of those types of students. I was far from Honor Roll, Couldn't play a sport worth a spit, but I showed up studied hard and participated in class. One year I was surprised to find out that I won the Most Improved Student award. That award did not mean I was one of the top students it just meant I tried hard. It went a long way and gave me confidence. I went on to finish high school, went to community college, went to Undergraduate and then received an M.B.A. I credit that award to helping me understand that you didn't have to be the one of the top students or athletes to be successful in life.. you just had to put the effort in.

Your DD, puts in the effort and she is going to be awarded for it far beyond the recognition that the school's award gives her, but it doesn't hurt for the school to acknowledge her for her efforts.

 

[shortbun]

I agree with you and I'm saddened by it. We are in a huge inter-urban school system and kids are actually awarded for showing up. As a retired bus driver, I do know that some of these students come from such horrific environments that it is by their own will that they make it to school. No one is there to guide them, encourage them, fix them a hot meal, help them with anything. Often, it is the student who is running the household, looking after the younger children-cooking, cleaning and so forth. Sad, isn't it? Yeah, celebrate the newly hewned math skills!!! Eat some Pi!

 

[DizBelle]

I've said it before, I'll say it again.... minkydog is my hero.

 

[minkydog]

Yeah, celebrate the newly hewned math skills!!! Eat some Pi!

Okay, now I totally have to make a Pi: coconut or apple?

 

[minkydog]

I've said it before, I'll say it again.... minkydog is my hero.

Aww, I'm blushing

 

[DizBelle]

Okay, now I totally have to make a Pi: coconut or apple?

Definitely had me

 

[nancys]

The filling is not the important thing. Just be sure it is not round, because Pi r squared.

 

[minkydog]

The filling is not the important thing. Just be sure it is not round, because Pi r squared.

See, this is why my daughter sucks at math

 

[MM27]

I'm sitting here scratching my head. Aren't our kids *supposed* to be doing these things? So now we're giving a prize for showing up and doing our work?

You'd think so right?
My first year in the classroom was an eye opener. I had never realized that kids would say, "I don't want to" when they were given an assignment or "what do I get for doing that?"

We have a student of the month program in my school and there really isn't a set of requirements. However, I have a list of criteria that I have posted in my classroom. It never fails at the conferences we have in November that at least one parent will say, "You would make him/her very happy if you made him/her student of the month." I point to the poster and explain what their child needs to do.