When Achievement Is Something to be Ashamed Of
By DW Davis
@DWDavis (25797)
United States
June 2, 2016 7:38pm CST
I saw an article today about a high school in Texas that has banned the wearing of National Honor Society stoles with graduation gowns. Apparently, when the school decided to ban wearing silly or gaudy additions to the graduation gowns, they also decided to ban the NHS stoles. The reason given was that the students who were not eligible to wear the stoles shouldn't be made to feel left out.
The fact that the students who were eligible to wear the NHS stoles had worked hard to earn the honor was totally cast aside in favor of not making the students who weren't willing to the work feel left out. And people wonder why today's young people aren't willing to work hard but still expect to get all the perks that come through hard work.
Do you agree with the high school that the NHS stoles negatively affected graduation, or do you think the NHS graduates should have been allowed to wear them?
5 people like this
4 responses
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
3 Jun 16
It's an honor that they earned . . . they should be able to allowed to them! I don't know what the stoles look like, but if they're that gaudy, the school should design a pin or have "something" tasteful that still shows distinction to those who have worked their tails off for such high achievement. It's not fair to take away what they truly deserve.1 person likes this
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
3 Jun 16
@DWDavis You're right - they're definitely not gaudy. I do remember an orangy-yellow sash type thing for my old high school which would stand out way more than these. I was an honor student, but definitely not with the highest honors. I was quite happy for my friends who did have the highest honors - I didn't feel "left out".
1 person likes this
@Poppylicious (11134)
• United Kingdom
3 Jun 16
I don't actually understand the Honor Roll system. Is it for intelligent students, the sort who don't necessarily work hard, it just comes naturally, or is it for students who put their heart and soul into their work and may not achieve high grades but do achieve their full potential?
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
3 Jun 16
Students who put their heart and soul into their work will most often achieve good grades, unless they have a diagnosable/identifiable learning disability. Students who are documented LD get accommodations so they can get good grades without having to do as much or as difficult work.
Students who are "naturally" smart are actually few and far between. The honor roll system is for students who consistently make good grades because they pay attention in class, take good notes, do their homework and classwork, and as a result score well on quizzes and tests.
@teamfreak16 (43648)
• Denver, Colorado
3 Jun 16
The school is wrong, but we are living in the "everybody gets a trophy" age, so I'm not all that surprised.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
3 Jun 16
We are raising a whole generation to believe they are entitled to all the perks without having to put in the work. That's one reason minimum wage workers are screaming for $15 an hour. They know the work isn't worth $15/hr and they know it's their own fault they can't get better jobs because they pissed away their education, but they've been convinced they aren't responsible for their own failures.
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