Underachievers' parents deny honor students [your kid's success is making my kid feel bad]

Seattle Times ^ | January 25, 2004 | Matt Gouras

[John Jorsett]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The school honor roll, a time-honored system for rewarding "A" students, has become an apparent source of embarrassment for some underachievers.

As a result, all Nashville schools have stopped posting honor rolls, and some are considering a ban on hanging good work in the hallways — at the advice of school lawyers.

After a few parents complained their children might be ridiculed for not making the list, school-system lawyers warned that state privacy laws forbid releasing academic information, good or bad, without permission.

Some schools since have put a stop to academic pep rallies. Others think they may have to cancel spelling bees. And schools across the state may follow Nashville's lead.

The change has upset many parents who want their children recognized for hard work.

"This is as backward as it gets," said Miriam Mimms, who has a son at Meigs Magnet School and helps run the Parent Teacher Association. "There has to be a way to come back from the rigidity."

Most states follow federal student privacy guidelines, which allow the release of such things as honor rolls, Department of Education officials said.

"It's the first time I've heard of schools doing that," said Jim Bradshaw, department spokesman.

But Nashville school lawyers based their decision last month on a state privacy law dating to the 1970s — a law not always followed because no one challenged the honor-roll status quo.

School officials are developing permission slips to give parents of the district's 69,000 students the option of having their children's work recognized. They hope to receive clearance before the next grading cycle.

Until then, principals will try to figure out what is acceptable.

Sandy Johnson, chief instructional officer for the Nashville schools, says the restrictions go "far beyond the honor role."

"It's for anything having to do with grades and attendance or anything normally reserved just for the student or parent," she said.

[BenLurkin]

America seems determined to destroy ourselves with this PC malarky.

[MEG33]

Good grief in Texas they have bumper stickers that say "My child in on the honor roll at such a such school" !

[Johnny_Cipher]

In Maine, we have stickers that say "My kid beat up your honor student" :)

[cajungirl]

Good grief. In Louisiana we have bumper stickers that say "My kid beat your honor roll kid up"

[curmudgeonII]

Honor role or no honor role, kids in school know who the dummies are.

[cajungirl]

LOL,,beat you to the punch!

[battousai]

Good grief in Texas they have bumper stickers that say "My child in on the honor roll at such a such school" !

That just reminded me about another bumper sticker...

"Your son may be an A student, but you're still an idiot"

:)

[cajungirl]

I love the part where everyone has to sign a release before they post the honor roll just in case a parent would object that his kid's privacy would be violated by being named and honor roll kid. We are slowly destroying ourselves with the help of socialists and trial lawyers.

[Michael.SF.]

in Texas they have bumper stickers that say "My child in on the honor roll at such a such school" !

They have them here in the ultra PC Bay Area, however, I suspect not for long.

[Paleo Conservative]

Good grief in Texas they have bumper stickers that say "My child in on the honor roll at such a such school"

I've also seen bumber stickers that say, "MY son can whip your honor student."

[Johnny_Cipher]

HA! Got ya by 32 seconds (its these cold nights and dry air - the fingers fairly fly across the keyboard) :)

[cajungirl]

Remember those hideous "Baby on Board" stickers. And then all the hysterical ones imitating them.

[kittymyrib]

In addition to the bumper stickers, you have academic pep rallies, all kinds of awards and prizes, particularly in conjunction with high achievement on the TAKS (Texas state tests). It will be a cold day in Hades before Texas gives up its recognition assemblies.

[cajungirl]

In Louisiana we are slow,,,but sneaky and dishonest. And we take bribes too.

[Mark]

The Tenn. Titans are next.

[cajungirl]

Next for what?

[Viking2002]

This sort of PC cowardice is beyond apalling. And, of course, frigging LAWYERS are involved with it.

[Gabz]

Two words:

Good Grief....................

[Johnny_Cipher]

That's why I enjoy New Orleans and Shreveport so much ... its like a living Tennessee Williams play :)