Honor rolls and the harm to human spirit

By Richard Morgan

Having been a teacher for more than 20 years, I always feel a certain amount of frustration when I continue to see year after year attention given to students who make the honor roll or who gain special recognition for “good” grades.

There is a thoroughly researched book called “Punished by Rewards” by Alfie Kohn (himself an ex-teacher as well as an author and speaker in the field of educational research), which challenges many of our traditional rewards/punishment practices in schools. It dismays me that educators continue to employ behavior modification (“carrot and stick”) strategies almost exclusively in classrooms, in school-wide activities (most of which are competitive in structure), so much so that it is rare for a staff member, student or parent to question them. Sometimes such practices are hallowed by being placed under the label of “tradition,” or, even more doubtful, as supportive of “human nature.” No one seems to want to hear that the sacred cow of competition is not natural, nor instinctive. It is taught. (See the book “No Contest: The Case Against Competition”) Consistent research shows that altruism is a basic trait among humans (not competitiveness) along with its “side effects” of greed, envy and violence. What might it do to our thinking to consider the possibility that those traits are actually learned rather than inborn? There are many who would even refuse to pose such a question because it challenges one of the foundational beliefs of their never-challenged religious dogmas, namely that human nature is flawed, even essentially sinful.

In writing this, I am hoping that it may be read by at least one parent or student who will understand in their hearts that getting straight As and Bs, making the varsity, getting on the spirit squad or receiving a certificate of academic achievement does not define success, does not make you a more worthwhile person, does not make you a “winner” and the un-rewarded as “losers.” You may be someone who improved your grades from Ds or Fs to Cs and never received any public recognition. You may be one of the hundreds of students who likes to play sports but is not allowed to use the school gyms, fields or stadiums after school because they are reserved for the exclusive use of only the “best” athletes. You are part of the greater under-appreciated majority, perhaps with some wonderful qualities (such as kindness, honesty, generosity, etc.) that schools never honor with good “grades” or bumper stickers that parents place on the rears of their cars. Regardless of whether you just graduated or are still in the system, believe in yourself, not in the praise (or lack of it) from others. Don’t let someone else decide whether or not you are good enough. There’s not a test in the world that can measure the potential of your own human spirit. That is something only you can know.

(Morgan lives in Napa.)

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