This is going to look like some clumsily put-together satire. But, so help me, it is not. This is real,
Excerpted from Jessica Chasmar\’s article at washingtontimes.com:
Ina letter sent to parents, Principal Alexis Meyer and AssistantPrincipal Dan Seger of Archie R. Cole Junior High School in EastGreenwich (Rhode Island) claim that “members of the school community have longexpressed concerns related to the exclusive nature of Honors Night,”a local ABC affiliate reported.
Theygo on to say that the school will recognize students during”team-based recognition ceremonies and graduation.”
“Thiswill affordus the opportunity to celebrate the individual and collectivesuccesses of all students and their effort, progress, andexcellence,” they said.
Translation: The Principal and Assistant Principal of this school agree: students who excel academically should not receive special recognition. No no no. Let\’s recognize everybody, regardless of how they have performed. See, we treat everyone the same. Tra la, tra la, tra la la la.
Educational idiocy in action.
It is only somewhat gratifying that subsequent reports indicate the hullabaloo over cancellation of Honors Night was so great that it has been reinstated. The key issue is that this is the mind set of the Principal Meyer and Assistant Principal Seger – so, although it was thwarted in this one instance, you can bet they will find other ways to manifest their “everyone is equal no matter how well some do and how poorly others do” philosophy.
Maybe, in addition to Honors Night, there should be a PTA meeting to decide whether this is the kind of educational experience parents want for their children…and, if not, how they can go about replacing the Principal and Assistant Principal?
