No more Honor Cords, Stoles etc at future FCPS Graduations?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, could you please articulate why this is important to you/your kid?

(To be clear, I ask this question as the parent of kids who do very well academically, and their graduation accessories are not something that matters to me, so I'm trying to understand where you're coming from.)

The reasoning the kids were given is to protect the feelings of those who don't have honor cords -- who (whether voluntarily or involuntarily) decided not to join the honor societies or organizations that the honor cords denote. So, some kids are not being allowed to celebrate their hard won success to protect the fragility of others.

This is the same thing as the "participation trophy" in kindergarten soccer - -except now we are talking about adults about to enter the real world.

So you would prefer kids achieve to get external validation? And celebrate by purchasing decorative stuff?

[Anonymous]

Good. The cords are expensive and mean nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good. The cords are expensive and mean nothing.

Why does it mean nothing to get good grades in multiple AP classes, get over a 4.0 GPA, complete service hours, be in National Honor Society, etc.?

I haven't been to a FCPS graduation, but do they actually announce all these things or print them in the program? Is there a program? If not, they are at least a visible way to acknowledge hard work and success.
I think it's crazy to do away with all of that.

We already don't have valedictorians or class rank, which is a real problem on college applications.

[Anonymous]

The cords are absolutely a money grab. The achivements do mean something but students shouldn't be enouraged to need physical bling to celebrate or validate their achivements.

[Anonymous]

When I graduated from high school, we had a National Honor Society cord and that was it. I've heard that there are dozens now and that it's out of control.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good. The cords are expensive and mean nothing.

Why does it mean nothing to get good grades in multiple AP classes, get over a 4.0 GPA, complete service hours, be in National Honor Society, etc.?

I haven't been to a FCPS graduation, but do they actually announce all these things or print them in the program? Is there a program? If not, they are at least a visible way to acknowledge hard work and success.
I think it's crazy to do away with all of that.

We already don't have valedictorians or class rank, which is a real problem on college applications.

So you just want to be able to show off that you have a smart kid who joined a lot of clubs? Shouldn't the knowledge that your child achieved all of this be enough?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, could you please articulate why this is important to you/your kid?

(To be clear, I ask this question as the parent of kids who do very well academically, and their graduation accessories are not something that matters to me, so I'm trying to understand where you're coming from.)

The reasoning the kids were given is to protect the feelings of those who don't have honor cords -- who (whether voluntarily or involuntarily) decided not to join the honor societies or organizations that the honor cords denote. So, some kids are not being allowed to celebrate their hard won success to protect the fragility of others.

This is the same thing as the "participation trophy" in kindergarten soccer - -except now we are talking about adults about to enter the real world.

That’s your take.

My take is they can list honors in the graduation program without families springing for all these miscellaneous cords and stoles that are now way over the top.

If the kids just wear their graduation gowns we’ll also avoid the annual outrage when some students are wearing stoles with political connotations.

[Anonymous]

It would be one thing if the school paid for all of this, but what about high achieving kids whose families can't afford them? Are you willing to pay into a fund for everyone to receive this recognition that you so deeply crave?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good. The cords are expensive and mean nothing.

I'm from somewhere where they are barely a trend. They are only for the high GPA kids based on GPA.

My kid did a summer study abroad program. The provider randomly sent him a cord. In their logo colors. I thought that was weird.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good. The cords are expensive and mean nothing.

Why does it mean nothing to get good grades in multiple AP classes, get over a 4.0 GPA, complete service hours, be in National Honor Society, etc.?

I haven't been to a FCPS graduation, but do they actually announce all these things or print them in the program? Is there a program? If not, they are at least a visible way to acknowledge hard work and success.
I think it's crazy to do away with all of that.

We already don't have valedictorians or class rank, which is a real problem on college applications.

The cords mean nothing. The achievements don't mean nothing. Students have already been recognized for their achievements with honor roll ceremonies, NHS inductions, NMSF recognition, etc. Needing to pay $$$ to wear a bunch of strings for 2 hours is silly.

I do wish kids could decorate their caps though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good. The cords are expensive and mean nothing.

Why does it mean nothing to get good grades in multiple AP classes, get over a 4.0 GPA, complete service hours, be in National Honor Society, etc.?

I haven't been to a FCPS graduation, but do they actually announce all these things or print them in the program? Is there a program? If not, they are at least a visible way to acknowledge hard work and success.
I think it's crazy to do away with all of that.

We already don't have valedictorians or class rank, which is a real problem on college applications.

So you just want to be able to show off that you have a smart kid who joined a lot of clubs? Shouldn't the knowledge that your child achieved all of this be enough?

You're way off. My kid is a sophomore and not on track for any of the cords I mentioned, himself. He is a varsity athlete, but I doubt they get cords. I still think that academic acheivement should be celebrated, and what better place than at graduation?
Now, as I said in my PP, if they are being acknowledge in some other way (announced at graduation or in the graduation program or at a separate awards dinner) then that is great and I love not participating in buying expensive cords. But if this is a backhanded way to NOT honor academic acheivement - like not having class rank or valedictorians, then I think it's the wrong decision.

[Anonymous]

I had a kid graduate FCPS during COVID. Things had shut down and activities that he was involved in and matter to him didn't happen so for graduation he was told he didn't get any cords/stoles whatever. He was pissed, he had worked hard and was invested. So he borrowed them from a kid who had graduated the year before. I was pissed at the school (seriously this is the hill you're going to die on during this shitty time) and said nothing to my kid when I say him with the bling at graduation. To some kids, this stuff matters. I'm sorry some snowflakes (and I'm betting its the parents more so than the kids) get bent out of shape about this.

FWIW I had another (older) kid who chose not to where any of it bc he really just didn't care he'd won all these accolades. I let him be too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good. The cords are expensive and mean nothing.

Why does it mean nothing to get good grades in multiple AP classes, get over a 4.0 GPA, complete service hours, be in National Honor Society, etc.?

I haven't been to a FCPS graduation, but do they actually announce all these things or print them in the program? Is there a program? If not, they are at least a visible way to acknowledge hard work and success.
I think it's crazy to do away with all of that.

We already don't have valedictorians or class rank, which is a real problem on college applications.

So you just want to be able to show off that you have a smart kid who joined a lot of clubs? Shouldn't the knowledge that your child achieved all of this be enough?

You're way off. My kid is a sophomore and not on track for any of the cords I mentioned, himself. He is a varsity athlete, but I doubt they get cords. I still think that academic acheivement should be celebrated, and what better place than at graduation?
Now, as I said in my PP, if they are being acknowledge in some other way (announced at graduation or in the graduation program or at a separate awards dinner) then that is great and I love not participating in buying expensive cords. But if this is a backhanded way to NOT honor academic acheivement - like not having class rank or valedictorians, then I think it's the wrong decision.

They are absolutely recognized in separate ceremonies/announcements/notifications.

NHS and each honors society have awards nights where inductees and members are recognized for their achievements. Juniors and seniors have awards ceremonies at school for things like department awards. NMSF are communicated to the whole school. Honor roll students are recognized at various points in the year.

Cords at graduation are just extraneous and repetitive. The only cords/pins/medals that aren't recognized at school are things from outside organizations, like eagle scout. Maybe you disagree, but I don't feel like it's critical to recognize a private/non academic organization at school. FCPS also gives cords to kids entering the military after graduation, or who have military parents. Again, is graduation the place for that?

[Anonymous]

Just let everyone wear whatever they want. Buy amazon cords or order a lei or put a candy necklace on. Graduation is so freaking boring without any personalization.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did we have all that stuff 30 years ago? Looking at college graduations now I see them wearing all these stoles and cords, and it seems like they have one for every little thing now. For high school is it only an honors cord or do they too now have a bunch of different ones? I think just a cap and gown is fine. Celebrate the achievement of graduation at the graduation ceremony, and let the other stuff be celebrated at separate award ceremonies or whatever.

NP. We had them at my HS (not FCPS) 30 years ago. Stole for NHS, cords for various other things.