Is National Honor Society a big deal?

[Anonymous]

My child was inducted last night and it was weird. No admins or teachers there, parents jammed into a tight space to watch, whole thing over in 15 minutes. I thought it was a big accomplishment to celebrate but maybe I misunderstood. How is it acknowledged at your child’s high school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child was inducted last night and it was weird. No admins or teachers there, parents jammed into a tight space to watch, whole thing over in 15 minutes. I thought it was a big accomplishment to celebrate but maybe I misunderstood. How is it acknowledged at your child’s high school?

Sadly underwhelmingly.
My student was inducted last spring. The principal did have some opening remarks, and there were some staff there including the teacher who leads NHS.
It was in the auditorium. But they had the new inductees all lined up OUTSIDE the auditorium and they were all talking (because they probably didn't know the program had begun) and so (1) it was difficult to hear the speakers and (2) the students were not even in the room to hear the speakers' remarks!
They had started bringing the line of students in, just to stay in the queue for when their names were to be called. So, some students were lined up along the side wall of the auditorium; but most were still lined up outside of the auditorium.

Each student's name was called, they walked over and shook hands with the teacher (or something, I forget now) and then proceeded to a table where they signed their name into the NHS chapter book and got a candle. Then they continued across the stage to risers until the line was done and they were all standing in a group together.
Some existing NHS members read something about each principle, and that was it.

There was a rather meager reception in the hallway just outside the auditorium, and eventually students realized that certificates were being passed out. So each student had to go find the person to get their certificate. Why they were not given to them during the ceremony is beyond me, unless they didn't want them holding it while also holding lighted candles?

I found it disappointing - the ceremony logistics, the cookies and soda reception (the NHS kids organized, and I don't want to criticize them for their efforts), but mostly the utter lack of really highlighting these students' accomplishments and the supposed honor of being eligible and accepted into NHS.

I realize NHS isn't the "honor" it was decades ago in my day. Back then it was more of an academic honor automatically granted to you. No application, no meetings, no community service requirement. It wasn't just another club. It was recognition for outstanding academic achievement -- something APS does not find particularly important. Instead, academic recognition is treated comparably - or even less so - than sports. I think athletes should absolutely be recognized for their achievements; but school is in the business of education and academic achievement ( and recognition for it ) should always rank at the top.

[Anonymous]

We had a nice reception but the actual honor is no big deal. Not that hard to get into.