Posted on 01/27/2004 6:57:40 AM PST by Apolitical
In Nashville, Tennessee, the honor roll is no more. Schools there have done away with the traditional lists of distinction, which identify A-students, because parents have complained the lists make the non-honorees feel bad, and the school system lawyers say the lists violate state privacy laws. Even putting up little Suzie's exemplary macaroni collage in the hallway may soon be out of the question, since this too is apparently releasing private academic information without permission and could leave all the other children in the class with pasta-picture envy.
The idea of eliminating rewards for academic achievement in order to spare others hurt feelings is seriously misguided. No, we don't need to rub children's faces in their failures, but by the same token, we should not hold back praise and honor for a child's job well done just because we're worried about what those who haven't achieved the extraordinary will think. To do so would be unfair to those kids who work hard; more importantly, it would be a very poor way to prepare children for real adult life, where no such hypersensitivity is generally exercised (except, on some occasions, when trial lawyers get involved).
But perhaps those who have done away with the Nashville honors find this problematic as well. Perhaps they would have all aspects of life modified so that underachievers are never made to feel embarrassed or regretful about not having been singled out for distinction. One can imagine how much more inclusive and harmonious our society would be if this were this case. Just think what the world might look like if we did away with all invidious and divisive recognition of achievement.
· George W. Bush and Al Gore would both be President right now because to count votes would be nothing more than a cruel form of social torture for the unpopular....
(Excerpt) Read more at iconoclast.ca ...
No offense, but I say this is more like Communism; ''You are all equal Comrade!''
Maybe we should ask those in Congress how they feel about it - then let the ones who agree with it know that they are no longer allowed to toot their own horn (Doh, how to get reelected now?) and brag of their "accomplishments" because that would fly directly in the face of this asinine viewpoint.
golly, do you really think so...?
Tornadoes do a good job too!
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