When did academic achievements become something schools did not want to recognize? Two high schools this year took me by surprise when they decided to implement new policies for graduation.
The Wake County School District in North Carolina decided on May 23, 2016, they were no longer going to announce valedictorians or salutatorians at graduation. According to the school board, the titles were creating, “unhealthy competition.” I, on the other hand, completely disagree with this mentality. Students work very hard to achieve the highest GPA of the class. I can remember in middle and elementary school, getting my “A-Honor Roll” certificate and thinking to myself, if I continued to work hard I could become valedictorian of my class. Now, I was not the valedictorian of the Corsicana High School class of 2014 (shout out to Caraline Means), but I did work hard for my grades and ended up in the top 10 percent. I didn’t pout or throw a fit when our valedictorian or salutatorian gave their speech during graduation because they earned it. They put in the long hours with their busy schedules and managed to achieve the highest grades of the class. Good for them! But this thought that no one should be singled out is ridiculous. This brings me to the next high school policy, in the great state of Texas!
First, I want you to imagine a little girl sitting with her family at a high school graduation. The girl sees white things around the graduates' necks and asks her mother what they are. She is confused as to why some of the graduates are wearing them and others are not. The mother looks to her daughter and says, “Those are called stoles, sweetie. It is a special privilege to wear them because it shows accomplishments with their grades and helping others.” The girl turns to her mom and replies, “Well I want to wear one when I graduate, so I am going to do everything I can to make that happen.”
This is a scenario that will not happen at a Texas high school graduation.
Plano Senior High School administrators said they were not going to allow the National Honor Society students to wear their white stoles at graduation this year. Why? You guessed it! They didn’t want to, “exclude any of their students”. The group of students in the National Honor Society, which has been an organization since 1921 and recognized in high school graduations for many years, will not be allowed to sport their stoles when they walk across the stage. Being a member of National Honor Society is a tremendous deal. There are induction ceremonies, meetings to attend, and GPA and community service requirements. These students put in a lot of work to be a member of this academic organization. In my personal opinion, the high school should allow the students to wear their stoles. This is an achievement that a school should brag about and be proud of. What the administrators are doing by telling the students they cannot wear their stoles, is basically saying their accomplishment is not important enough to recognize. And to be completely fair, it is not like they are announcing a long list of names of those who are in NHS over the microphone. They are simply wearing a stole along with their cap and gown. Personally, I did not get to wear the stole when I graduated high school, but my best friend did. I was not jealous of her, nor did I make a big scene, I congratulated her on working hard to achieve her goal.
The high schoolers who are not in National Honor Society should make it a point to tell their principals and administrators they want their fellow classmates to be proud of their accomplishments and wear their stoles at graduation because they earned them. That would be a great form of character for those students. We live in a world now where everyone gets a ribbon for their effort. Participation ribbons are doing more harm than good. The last time I checked, everyone got their name called at graduation. There should be no reason for anyone to feel left out.
