The death of the honour roll?

Honour Roll at my high school was around the 75% mark.  I managed to make it three times in five years; I still have the certificates somewhere.  There was always a special breakfast once a semester for honour roll kids.  It gave me something to aim for; to see if I could make it again next semester.  Usually I'd try my best, but wouldn't necessarily get it.  My attitude was "there's always next term." And no matter what I always felt I had done my best.

School boards in Alberta are doing away with the honour roll, and all year-end awards.  No more most-improved, no more best mark, or best attendance.  Officials at St. Basil Catholic School in Calgary argue in a Calgary Herald article that awards eventually lose their shine.  They're also citing the effect on self esteem of students singling them out. 

It's unrealistic.  In the real world you're singled out for doing a good job, and told when you're not.   What better place to teach kids this key lesson than the relatively sheltered environment of a school.  Recognition for doing a good job is never a bad thing; it encourages people to keep doing it.  And it inspires others to join them.

Awards lose their shine.  I'm at the point in my career where it matters more that I can get the exclusive, or make the front page of a newspaper than whether I made the honour roll in high-school.  The work ethic involved in making the honour roll never goes away, and that can be attractive to universities, and future employers.

It makes me wonder about this generation of kids coming up.  If they have no hope of recognition for a job well done, then what will they be like in the work force? Will they try as hard? Will they learn as much? If they can't understand failure, and success what hope is there? If we don't teach them the importance of achievement then what kind of Canada are we making?

What role do parents have to play? When I was at school, my marks were always okay by my parents as long as I could look them in the eye and tell them I'd done my best.  Even now as I'm taking an online class as an adult, I'm finding the mark means less than the knowledge.


Keep the honour roll in place; give kids something to aim for.  Achievement inspires excellence.