School Awards Programs. Are they a menace or a wholesome part of High School?
I am in High School now and they seem to be a bane to the educational process. For the record I do receive awards and I am just stating an opinion and welcome others. But, anyway I think they elevate people to much. It is almost always the same person or a select group that gets the awards, and very few out of that group receive any. (I am speaking of departmental awards and academic achievement awards.) I think that it is a great thing in moderation for everyone, even those that don’t receive any. Think about the amount of hopelessness one would have if someone never got any awards; and they honestly did their best to get one, however, they see someone that is naturally gifted, and put little effort into getting the award along with a whole rash of others making it less special to the said individual than the one who received none? What lesson could this possibly teach? Yes, as said before moderation is great; it motivates people and engenders them with a spirit of perseverance.
Don’t answer the rhetorical questions in my opinion!!! Answer the main opinion and only answer the rhetorical if it happens to work. Also I am not asking if it is good for college ect. I am asking if it is good for the moral of the students as a whole!
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4 comments
sophist on March 4, 2010 at 8:38 pm
Award programs are as good as the people administering them. One reason the same group seems to be getting the awards is because academic achievement is highly regarded by the those people that occupy their environment and this keeps them highly motivated. Another reason would of course be superior intellect at least as far as the academic subjects are concerned.
Edward on March 4, 2010 at 8:53 pm
I believe that they are a wholesome part of High School. I think the elevation goes with the territory, though some students tend to exaggerate this. It has to be a great feeling knowing that you have been recognized for your academic achievements and that you have worked hard. Don’t you think that those awards and achievements are going to get you noticed when you apply to Universities or secondary educational institutions? For those who worked just as hard and didn’t receive anything, that should be motivation enough to work harder and excel. It is all up to the student on whether or not they continue to pursue excellence or are satisfied with what they have achieved. The lesson being…the harder you work, award or not, you are still going to be a success. You can’t let an award be the difference of whether you succeed or not.
Stand-up Philosopher on March 4, 2010 at 9:43 pm
they are worth nothing. i doubt any employers will ask you about any student of the week awards or any of that crap.
path less travelled on March 4, 2010 at 9:59 pm
Yours is a keen observation. You must keep to this keen eye. For you now observe already what carries for remainder of life in a given society. It is indeed an exponent of the herd instinct. And you do observe already how the mass conscience molds us into sheep, into tame rabbits and robots for the arbiters of the Academy, of Church, and of State to manage.
Your last sentence tends to the antidote. In moderation comes the insight on how best to work with this. But know that your observation, your feeling — ay, your perception of the wider implications — is an astute one.