Is student self-esteem really at stake?
A school in Calgary is making national headlines after announcing its decision to axe the honour roll program. Grade 7 and 9 students at St. Basil Elementary and Junior High School will no longer be able to compete for the honour roll.
School officials stated in a letter to parents: “Awards eventually lose their lustre to students who get them, while often hurting the self-esteem and pride of those who do not receive a certificate.”
At a forum held by the Calgary Catholic School District, attendees expressed concerns that “honours and award programs can sow jealousy among classmates, cause undue stress and spur children who are not top achievers to give up because they never win,” the Vancouver Sun reported.
In this misguided attempt to remove any sort of competition to preserve the self-esteem of all students, those who strive to succeed in their academic studies will miss out on opportunities to receive encouragement and recognition for their efforts.
These students are about to enter high school, and from there, may pursue post-secondary education or enter the workforce. Virtually any avenue will include some degree of competition, and these individuals will be judged on the skills they possess. Honours and awards such as the honour roll can help students decide where to focus their energies, while also providing an incentive to work hard.
Perhaps my view on this issue is shaped by my own experience as an honour roll student. I’ll take a self-deprecating turn and state that, although I did receive the honour roll certificates at this age, there were plenty of other opportunities for self-esteem to be diminished. In fact, one student coined the certificates honour roll students received “nerdificates” and undermined those who received them – not exactly a confidence boost. My point in relaying this anecdote is that student’s self-esteem will be tested throughout their school experiences in a myriad of ways – not only academically. Competition is inevitable, both in the classroom and outside of school.
Not only is competition inevitable, but it can be healthy. In this debate, school officials assert, “awards eventually lose their lustre,” which is true – in the end, it’s only a piece of paper. But, having a tangible, quantifiable goal to strive towards is a positive motivator, and the skills and work ethic gained during the process of reaching for this goal are as important as the end result.
Athletes are cheered on by an audience eager to witness victories, and leaders are voted into student council positions based on political prowess. Even the social lives of these emerging adolescents involve cliques and hierarchies. Each of these aspects of life requires some competition. Why single out the honour roll award system as a self-esteem detractor?
Grades become even more important at in the upper years of high school, and academic performance during these formative years will shape the opportunities available to these students in the future.
Middle school can be challenging, and it’s certainly worth making efforts to help boost student’s self esteem during this transition time. But the decision to cut the honour program is a misguided attempt to preserve a kid’s self esteem – one that will not only be ineffective, but possibly detrimental to their future success.