MCPS Public Awards for Is

[Anonymous]

I was surprised that our elementary school publishes a list of special awards given to children who receive 6 or & Is on their report card. I counted the numbers of names and 85% of the kids in 1 st grade received an award and their names were published in the newsletter. I have a SN kids but his issue is a speech delay which does not affect any of the behavior categories. He was thrilled to get the award, be in the newsletter, and was proud to get all I s so I can see the value. However, it occurred to me that this is very unfair to any SN kids who have developmental reasons for why following instructions, relating to peers, listening etc is more difficult. I have friends with kids who have sensory, mild spectrum, ADHD or other issues where some of these categories would be a real struggle for their child.

I feel strange saying anything to the school because the unfairness doesn't directly impact my child. My experience with schools is that they often don't welcome anyone pointing out that what they are doing may need to be reconsidered. I do know a few of the other moms whose kids names are not on the list and whose kids do have SN issues. I don't feel that I know them well enough to say anything and would hate to bring this up if they are already bothered by it.

[Anonymous]

What is an Is?

[Anonymous]

I'm probably going to be in the minority here - at least I was when my DCs school did something similar with essentially making students' grades public - but I am very much against this practice.. It seems that most people liked the idea of giving out awards for their kids' grades but when MOST students are receiving the awards, all that does is highlight the students who aren't getting good grades. It is very discouraging for those kids, especially when, like OP pointed out, they have special needs that might be keeping them from getting top grades.

[Anonymous]

I wish the schools would do more than recognize grades - there's a lot of things they could celebrate. My DS got an award in first grade for 'most improved organization' and he was very proud of it. I appreciate your sensitivity to this and it would be nice if you mentioned it to the school staff. It shouldn't be about taking away recognition from anyone else, it's about knowing there's a lot more to celebrate than just grades.

[Anonymous]

In some form or another, the practice of recognizing grades continues all through school. There is honor roll, which is published. In middle school, there is the ABC dance for kids who didn't get any D's or E's. The list of kids who get to go is posted on the wall. At the end of the year, there are academic awards in each subject, plus awards for kids who got all As and kids who made honor roll all year. So, OP, it's not like it's something unique to your child's school and it's something that isn't going to go away.

But, there ae also awards for great athletes and great artists. As one PP mentioned, there are awards for most organized and the like in early years. In middle school there is an award based on core values (respect, responsibility and easiness).

[Anonymous]

What are Is? What grade is this for?

[Anonymous]

When my DD was in elementary (MCPS), there was something called the Principal's Wall of fame. There were schoolwide tests every week, and if you got a 90 or above on both tests, you got your picture on the wall and a pizza party. Well, my daughter never, in all 6 years, managed to get on the wall. It was hearbreaking for her --- and me. I talked to the administration several times about this to no avail. Talk about teaching a kid to hate school and think she's stupid, her word not mine. She's been out of elementary for four years, so I'm not sure this is still the practice.

[Anonymous]

I is for independent.

I have a SN kid in MCPS and I think that he will never be really a part of his school because of this.

[Anonymous]

Interesting. our school doesn't do this but they do have awards where they "catch" kids being good/helpful/kind/proactive etc. and they make a point to catch each kid at least once.

[Anonymous]

Wow! So glad our school DOES NOT PUBLISH ANYTHING. My dc is also SN, and can never do certain things 'independently'. This is noted on the report card, where it belongs and should be kept private. How humiliating to a SN child who tries their hardest, but is made even more aware of what they CANNOT do!