Wow! It's been two months since I blogged about anything! Would love to say I was sitting on a remote beach somewhere without benefit of any modern conveniences such as computers and cell phones... but the reality is I've been hard at work... working, mother, wifing, etc...
In the last 36 hours I have sat through Ethan's high school graduation and Kelley's 8th grade graduation ceremonies and I have to say I have learned a few things...
1) First and foremost I am PROUD of these boys.
Ethan graduated magna cum laude at age 16 and is now somewhere in "identity crisis" mode waiting for college. (I should be appearing on Oprah any day based on his meltdown Saturday night over his apparent and appalling lack of a childhood directly related to the fact that he skipped 1st grade, is the oldest of 4 children, and I made him do more chores at an earlier age than any of his friends - I'll keep you posted about the Oprah-date)
Kelley graduated, also with honors, from middle school and is heading for high school, safely from his bed where he is trying to make a quick recovery from walking pneumonia (that we discovered - credits to the urgent care for getting us in and out in 2 hours in time to change clothes for Ethan's graduation - yesterday morning). He made a valiant effort to attend the 2½ hour long (yes, I did say 2½ hours! 1 hour longer and 400 children less than Ethan's of the day before) ceremony and has 1 more final at the high school tomorrow and then back to bed. Football workouts start on Monday!
2) Any school that is going to attempt to host a 2½ hour long graduation ceremony in an unairconditioned gymnasium with 60% seating capacity should have a suggestion box and a PTA committee to assist.
3) People are tacky and classless in large groups. The blatant disregard for the teachers and staff requests that all applause WAIT until ALL names are ready is appalling. I am thrilled for you that the first child in your family for 10 generations has managed to graduate 8th/12th grade, but I would like the joy of hearing my own child's name read, which I cannot because you are whistling, yelling, hollering, and making a public nuisance of yourself. Ignorant, selfish, egocentric, narcissistic, and rude are just a few words that come to mind.
4) The tendency to award all children for just showing up negates the hard work and achievement of those children who actually deserve the accolades.
The high school has done away with the Valedictorian and Salutatorian on the grounds it is "unfair". Unfair to reward and acknowledge 2 students who have worked hard to achieve this momentous status? Instead they elected "anonymously" chosen speeches to be read and the top 10 students received a medal, but none were identified as being better than any other. Heaven forbid.
The middle school, bless their little hearts each one, gives out certificates to each classroom for (no joke) 1) all kids with A's all year, 2) kids with B's and C's all year, 3) kids who have made the most progress all year, and 4) kids who have worked hard even if their grades don't show it. Seriously! (explains the 2½ hours doesn't it).
Sadly, those 8th grade students who have actually excelled and are taking high school classes, not just 1 but 2, and not just freshman level but honors sophomore (that's 10th grade) classes are not recognized because their teachers aren't there to hand them out.
We are caught in a society of praising everyone the same, regardless of effort and achievement. It's like we're keeping our children stuck at age 5 in T-Ball - that amazingly pointless version of baseball where there are no positions, no scores, no winner, no pitcher and all kids receive the same trophy - but for life. What are we doing to our children? This is not how the "real" world works. We are teaching them they don't have to work for anything, just show up, and that working hard for something brings no results so why bother.
5) Kelley has a great 10th grade honors geometry teacher. He sent the middle school a certificate for him for "outstanding achievement" all year (he had a grade point average of 4.0). This is the first time a high school award was included for a middle schooler, but not the first time an 8th grader earned one.
6) Kelley has a great school counselor. She presented him with this geometry award and made a point of explaining that this is a 10th grade honors class at the high school. He was called to stand up before the entire assembly. Hurray! Finally, a child, just one, awarded for an achievement earned and not part of the masses just because everyone is getting an award.
I totally agree that no child should be left behind.... but no child should be held back either. Let's stand and praise our nation's chilren for their accomplishments, efforts and successes... in the classroom, on the sports field, in serving the community. Let's encourage them to try harder, work smarter, enjoy learning and help others.
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