Traditionally, the front hall at our high school displays the photos of the current years 30 odd National Merit Semi-Finalists. The other 98% of the school is primarily covered with photos of athletes.
This week I was told that they removed the National Merit photos because someone complained that the photos make other students who didn’t get the award feel bad about themselves. Of course the athletes photos are fine. All heck would break loose it the athletic pics came down.
To me it is sad that it has become unacceptable to do anything at all to recognize academic achievement. It was almost never recognized before, but apparently that was a little bit too often for the pc police.
That’s awefull! Our school has a plaque in the hallway with the names of every NMF engraved on it. My kids feel it’s an inspiration, something to strive for. I’d be upset if they took it down.
Imagine the uproar if they announced that to avoid anyone feeling bad, scores will not be kept at HS football games, and that at the end of each game they will announce that it is a tie. Lol
Everyone else had the opportunity to be a NMF, more so even than the opportunity to be the star athlete (if the coach doesn’t play you, you can’t be a star) so why the heck can winners not be celebrated, but athletes can? Beyond ridiculous. I already feel like academic achievements are not recognized enough. This is just more proof of that. My D graduated first in her class, and the only awards she received were for lacrosse and cheerleading. Ridiculous.
definitely bring it to the school board, it’s a NATIONAL recognition for crying out loud! …my D was recognized at graduation, and it was printed in the program.
That’s crazy and political correctness to an extreme. My Ds school is notorious for overemphasizing sports but even they recognize commended and NMF students at a pep rally. They also tweeted a list of kids who are moving on to the next round.
At my daughter’s school the athletes won all the “general” awards at senior award night (not those defined as academic awards like best italian student but all those that were defined as being about leadership, community, citizenship, etc.) It was frustrating seeing how other outstanding students who were not athletes were overlooked.
Look at it this way. Three or four years from now all those academic kids will be doing great, and won’t care one whit about some silly HS award. Those athletes may possibly be looking back on their “golden days”. I agree it’s annoying and silly, but one of those things to let roll off your back.
I personally agree with the concept, but disagree with the rationale. Way too much emphasis placed on a one-time four hour test, that favors kids who can do well on the SAT. (Not saying that that is a bad thing, but it purposely excludes the kids who can ACE the ACT, with a similar % score; a 35 on the ACT, too bad, no picture for you.)
No chance at make-ups, if you happen to be sick that day, or if you had a football game/other athletic event the night before and got dinged.
And no, it has almost nothing to do with “outstanding students.” Indeed, HS grades are barely relevant since 90+% of students move from Semi to Finalist. As long as they are not on probation at their HS, they will earn a Principal’s rec.
As a NMSF and NMF (until the May 11th release, that’s all any NMF can say), I agree with all of the above. “National Merit Semi-Finalist” sounds grand, devoid of context, but “scored 225+ on the PSAT” (the highest possible cutoff) isn’t a stellar accomplishment. Would a school honor all students with a 2300+ on the SAT (or 1500 on the new SAT)? I’m personally far more proud of the things I did outside the classroom than my performance in a dress rehearsal for the SAT.
That’s not to say athletics should trump academics when a school recognizes its students’ accomplishments. Even so, how about commending the students whose accomplishments span 4 years instead of 2.5 hours? The musicians, artists, and writers? These students, and many more, have achieved as much as a NMSF in their own way.