Why academic awards for elementary aged kids are a bad idea.

[Anonymous]

By the time kids are in second grade, it is time to start learning and accepting that you can be good at something but not necessarily the best, and that not everyone gets an award every time. If these were K students, I would agree it was inappropriate, but 2nd grade is old enough to accept this. My 1st grade DS was completely distraught because another kid got MVP on coach pitch this year, and frankly, I was really irritated with him about it, because the other kid deserved it and it wasn't a reflection on DS.


Did you know that when kids are asked to be creative, they do amazing things? And when they're told the most creative project gets a prize, their stuff turns out to be much less creative?

It's so interesting how that works.

So then I am assuming you are opposed to Noble Prizes, Mann-Booker awards etc. as well? Because those scientists and authors are probably not being as creative and smart as they would have been absent those achievement awards, right?

[Anonymous]

Did you know that when kids are asked to be creative, they do amazing things? And when they're told the most creative project gets a prize, their stuff turns out to be much less creative?

It's so interesting how that works.

Nobody told my son, who has ASD and is in 2nd grade, that he would be getting an achievement award in math this year, so it didn't affect his motivation either way. But he did get one, and it was awesome for him to get recognition for something other than being terrible at sports and socially awkward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

By the time kids are in second grade, it is time to start learning and accepting that you can be good at something but not necessarily the best, and that not everyone gets an award every time. If these were K students, I would agree it was inappropriate, but 2nd grade is old enough to accept this. My 1st grade DS was completely distraught because another kid got MVP on coach pitch this year, and frankly, I was really irritated with him about it, because the other kid deserved it and it wasn't a reflection on DS.


Did you know that when kids are asked to be creative, they do amazing things? And when they're told the most creative project gets a prize, their stuff turns out to be much less creative?

It's so interesting how that works.

So then I am assuming you are opposed to Noble Prizes, Mann-Booker awards etc. as well? Because those scientists and authors are probably not being as creative and smart as they would have been absent those achievement awards, right?

No, I'm not opposed to those rewards and awards for adults. But I do know that sometimes scientists at big research institutions can be class-A azzholes who hoard or steal data and research for themselves and are royal sh!ts to their grad students and post-docs because being recognized and awarded is key to their professional success. It's the scientists who remain mostly aloof to that kind of reward system who are the best to work with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

By the time kids are in second grade, it is time to start learning and accepting that you can be good at something but not necessarily the best, and that not everyone gets an award every time. If these were K students, I would agree it was inappropriate, but 2nd grade is old enough to accept this. My 1st grade DS was completely distraught because another kid got MVP on coach pitch this year, and frankly, I was really irritated with him about it, because the other kid deserved it and it wasn't a reflection on DS.


Did you know that when kids are asked to be creative, they do amazing things? And when they're told the most creative project gets a prize, their stuff turns out to be much less creative?

It's so interesting how that works.

So then I am assuming you are opposed to Noble Prizes, Mann-Booker awards etc. as well? Because those scientists and authors are probably not being as creative and smart as they would have been absent those achievement awards, right?

No, I'm not opposed to those rewards and awards for adults. But I do know that sometimes scientists at big research institutions can be class-A azzholes who hoard or steal data and research for themselves and are royal sh!ts to their grad students and post-docs because being recognized and awarded is key to their professional success. It's the scientists who remain mostly aloof to that kind of reward system who are the best to work with.

Pssst... there are jerks at every workplace... getting rid of the Nobel Prize will not make them go away... just FYI.

Seriously, some of the people on this thread truly need to get a grip. Your children are not so fragile that an awards ceremony will ruin their lives. Man, now I understand the term special snowflake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

By the time kids are in second grade, it is time to start learning and accepting that you can be good at something but not necessarily the best, and that not everyone gets an award every time. If these were K students, I would agree it was inappropriate, but 2nd grade is old enough to accept this. My 1st grade DS was completely distraught because another kid got MVP on coach pitch this year, and frankly, I was really irritated with him about it, because the other kid deserved it and it wasn't a reflection on DS.


Did you know that when kids are asked to be creative, they do amazing things? And when they're told the most creative project gets a prize, their stuff turns out to be much less creative?

It's so interesting how that works.

So then I am assuming you are opposed to Noble Prizes, Mann-Booker awards etc. as well? Because those scientists and authors are probably not being as creative and smart as they would have been absent those achievement awards, right?

No, I'm not opposed to those rewards and awards for adults. But I do know that sometimes scientists at big research institutions can be class-A azzholes who hoard or steal data and research for themselves and are royal sh!ts to their grad students and post-docs because being recognized and awarded is key to their professional success. It's the scientists who remain mostly aloof to that kind of reward system who are the best to work with.

Pssst... there are jerks at every workplace... getting rid of the Nobel Prize will not make them go away... just FYI.

Seriously, some of the people on this thread truly need to get a grip. Your children are not so fragile that an awards ceremony will ruin their lives. Man, now I understand the term special snowflake.

No, who said that? You are arguing against argument that has not been made. Are you a lawyer?

[Anonymous]

By the time kids are in second grade, it is time to start learning and accepting that you can be good at something but not necessarily the best, and that not everyone gets an award every time. If these were K students, I would agree it was inappropriate, but 2nd grade is old enough to accept this. My 1st grade DS was completely distraught because another kid got MVP on coach pitch this year, and frankly, I was really irritated with him about it, because the other kid deserved it and it wasn't a reflection on DS.


Did you know that when kids are asked to be creative, they do amazing things? And when they're told the most creative project gets a prize, their stuff turns out to be much less creative?

It's so interesting how that works.

I think you are seriously overestimating the prominence that these academic awards, which are rarely if ever mentioned during the course of the school year, have on these kids' minds and work day-to-day. But you are obviously wedded to the idea that they are awful, and I'm not going to change your mind, just as I doubt you're going to change the schools' minds.

[Anonymous]

I am an educator who is opposed to academic awards in the elementary grades.
I am also opposed to everyone on a team getting a trophy for being on a team.
We have coddled our kids way too much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

By the time kids are in second grade, it is time to start learning and accepting that you can be good at something but not necessarily the best, and that not everyone gets an award every time. If these were K students, I would agree it was inappropriate, but 2nd grade is old enough to accept this. My 1st grade DS was completely distraught because another kid got MVP on coach pitch this year, and frankly, I was really irritated with him about it, because the other kid deserved it and it wasn't a reflection on DS.


Did you know that when kids are asked to be creative, they do amazing things? And when they're told the most creative project gets a prize, their stuff turns out to be much less creative?

It's so interesting how that works.

So then I am assuming you are opposed to Noble Prizes, Mann-Booker awards etc. as well? Because those scientists and authors are probably not being as creative and smart as they would have been absent those achievement awards, right?

No, I'm not opposed to those rewards and awards for adults. But I do know that sometimes scientists at big research institutions can be class-A azzholes who hoard or steal data and research for themselves and are royal sh!ts to their grad students and post-docs because being recognized and awarded is key to their professional success. It's the scientists who remain mostly aloof to that kind of reward system who are the best to work with.

Pssst... there are jerks at every workplace... getting rid of the Nobel Prize will not make them go away... just FYI.

Seriously, some of the people on this thread truly need to get a grip. Your children are not so fragile that an awards ceremony will ruin their lives. Man, now I understand the term special snowflake.

No, who said that? You are arguing against argument that has not been made. Are you a lawyer?

Obviously you are not since you can't seem to piece this together.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

By the time kids are in second grade, it is time to start learning and accepting that you can be good at something but not necessarily the best, and that not everyone gets an award every time. If these were K students, I would agree it was inappropriate, but 2nd grade is old enough to accept this. My 1st grade DS was completely distraught because another kid got MVP on coach pitch this year, and frankly, I was really irritated with him about it, because the other kid deserved it and it wasn't a reflection on DS.


Did you know that when kids are asked to be creative, they do amazing things? And when they're told the most creative project gets a prize, their stuff turns out to be much less creative?

It's so interesting how that works.

I think you are seriously overestimating the prominence that these academic awards, which are rarely if ever mentioned during the course of the school year, have on these kids' minds and work day-to-day. But you are obviously wedded to the idea that they are awful, and I'm not going to change your mind, just as I doubt you're going to change the schools' minds.

I'm not welded. Show me a body of empirical evidence that they're good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

By the time kids are in second grade, it is time to start learning and accepting that you can be good at something but not necessarily the best, and that not everyone gets an award every time. If these were K students, I would agree it was inappropriate, but 2nd grade is old enough to accept this. My 1st grade DS was completely distraught because another kid got MVP on coach pitch this year, and frankly, I was really irritated with him about it, because the other kid deserved it and it wasn't a reflection on DS.


Did you know that when kids are asked to be creative, they do amazing things? And when they're told the most creative project gets a prize, their stuff turns out to be much less creative?

It's so interesting how that works.

I think you are seriously overestimating the prominence that these academic awards, which are rarely if ever mentioned during the course of the school year, have on these kids' minds and work day-to-day. But you are obviously wedded to the idea that they are awful, and I'm not going to change your mind, just as I doubt you're going to change the schools' minds.

I'm not welded. Show me a body of empirical evidence that they're good.

None of the research cited earlier in the thread actually provides any evidence that they are bad, either... They are mostly talking about praising a child's hard work vs. intelligence. But as far as I know, schools are not giving out intelligence prizes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

By the time kids are in second grade, it is time to start learning and accepting that you can be good at something but not necessarily the best, and that not everyone gets an award every time. If these were K students, I would agree it was inappropriate, but 2nd grade is old enough to accept this. My 1st grade DS was completely distraught because another kid got MVP on coach pitch this year, and frankly, I was really irritated with him about it, because the other kid deserved it and it wasn't a reflection on DS.


Did you know that when kids are asked to be creative, they do amazing things? And when they're told the most creative project gets a prize, their stuff turns out to be much less creative?

It's so interesting how that works.

So then I am assuming you are opposed to Noble Prizes, Mann-Booker awards etc. as well? Because those scientists and authors are probably not being as creative and smart as they would have been absent those achievement awards, right?

No, I'm not opposed to those rewards and awards for adults. But I do know that sometimes scientists at big research institutions can be class-A azzholes who hoard or steal data and research for themselves and are royal sh!ts to their grad students and post-docs because being recognized and awarded is key to their professional success. It's the scientists who remain mostly aloof to that kind of reward system who are the best to work with.

Pssst... there are jerks at every workplace... getting rid of the Nobel Prize will not make them go away... just FYI.

Seriously, some of the people on this thread truly need to get a grip. Your children are not so fragile that an awards ceremony will ruin their lives. Man, now I understand the term special snowflake.

No, who said that? You are arguing against argument that has not been made. Are you a lawyer?

Obviously you are not since you can't seem to piece this together.

Okay, I'm going to summarize your argument above:

1. There are jerks in every workplace and removing the Nobel Prize will not make them go away. Therefore awards are not bad and also...something something...school awards ceremonies are not deleterious to school children.

2. Giving a 2nd grader an award helps the deserving, awarded child know (reaffirm?) he/she is the best at X and it helps the non-award children realize that the award winner is the best at X, and it helps them accept that they are not as good at X as the award winner is. Therefore, awards ceremonies are good/not bad for school children.

3. People who cite research regarding the negative or counter motivational impact of prizes/awards and conclude that there's good evidence to discontinue the practice consider their children to be pathologically weak, precious snowflakes.

Did I read your words correctly?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The attendance award is the worst, you know they all showed up to school sick at one point or another- passing along their germs. Showing up does not merit an award

This! And sending my kid with asthma to the hospital. Worst award idea EVER!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

By the time kids are in second grade, it is time to start learning and accepting that you can be good at something but not necessarily the best, and that not everyone gets an award every time. If these were K students, I would agree it was inappropriate, but 2nd grade is old enough to accept this. My 1st grade DS was completely distraught because another kid got MVP on coach pitch this year, and frankly, I was really irritated with him about it, because the other kid deserved it and it wasn't a reflection on DS.


Did you know that when kids are asked to be creative, they do amazing things? And when they're told the most creative project gets a prize, their stuff turns out to be much less creative?

It's so interesting how that works.

So then I am assuming you are opposed to Noble Prizes, Mann-Booker awards etc. as well? Because those scientists and authors are probably not being as creative and smart as they would have been absent those achievement awards, right?

No, I'm not opposed to those rewards and awards for adults. But I do know that sometimes scientists at big research institutions can be class-A azzholes who hoard or steal data and research for themselves and are royal sh!ts to their grad students and post-docs because being recognized and awarded is key to their professional success. It's the scientists who remain mostly aloof to that kind of reward system who are the best to work with.

Pssst... there are jerks at every workplace... getting rid of the Nobel Prize will not make them go away... just FYI.

Seriously, some of the people on this thread truly need to get a grip. Your children are not so fragile that an awards ceremony will ruin their lives. Man, now I understand the term special snowflake.

No, who said that? You are arguing against argument that has not been made. Are you a lawyer?

Obviously you are not since you can't seem to piece this together.

Okay, I'm going to summarize your argument above:

1. There are jerks in every workplace and removing the Nobel Prize will not make them go away. Therefore awards are not bad and also...something something...school awards ceremonies are not deleterious to school children.

2. Giving a 2nd grader an award helps the deserving, awarded child know (reaffirm?) he/she is the best at X and it helps the non-award children realize that the award winner is the best at X, and it helps them accept that they are not as good at X as the award winner is. Therefore, awards ceremonies are good/not bad for school children.

3. People who cite research regarding the negative or counter motivational impact of prizes/awards and conclude that there's good evidence to discontinue the practice consider their children to be pathologically weak, precious snowflakes.

Did I read your words correctly?

You are WAY overthinking this, and attributing negative effects to prizes (i.e. that they encourage bad behavior in the workplace!) that are questionable, at best. I agree with the pp above that children should learn to celebrate other people's victories, and be proud of their own accomplishments. Research on this topic indicates that children should be praised for EFFORT, not innate abilities. So a child getting a prize for effort is not a bad thing. Please show me where ANY research says that an awards certificate is going to do psychological damage to a child. That's your interpretation of a body of research I am familiar with, and I don't agree with your conclusion. I don't even know how you reached your conclusion. I hope you are not so dead-set on cushioning your child from every blow in life, because that will not end well for him/her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

By the time kids are in second grade, it is time to start learning and accepting that you can be good at something but not necessarily the best, and that not everyone gets an award every time. If these were K students, I would agree it was inappropriate, but 2nd grade is old enough to accept this. My 1st grade DS was completely distraught because another kid got MVP on coach pitch this year, and frankly, I was really irritated with him about it, because the other kid deserved it and it wasn't a reflection on DS.


Did you know that when kids are asked to be creative, they do amazing things? And when they're told the most creative project gets a prize, their stuff turns out to be much less creative?

It's so interesting how that works.

So then I am assuming you are opposed to Noble Prizes, Mann-Booker awards etc. as well? Because those scientists and authors are probably not being as creative and smart as they would have been absent those achievement awards, right?

No, I'm not opposed to those rewards and awards for adults. But I do know that sometimes scientists at big research institutions can be class-A azzholes who hoard or steal data and research for themselves and are royal sh!ts to their grad students and post-docs because being recognized and awarded is key to their professional success. It's the scientists who remain mostly aloof to that kind of reward system who are the best to work with.

Pssst... there are jerks at every workplace... getting rid of the Nobel Prize will not make them go away... just FYI.

Seriously, some of the people on this thread truly need to get a grip. Your children are not so fragile that an awards ceremony will ruin their lives. Man, now I understand the term special snowflake.

No, who said that? You are arguing against argument that has not been made. Are you a lawyer?

Obviously you are not since you can't seem to piece this together.

Okay, I'm going to summarize your argument above:

1. There are jerks in every workplace and removing the Nobel Prize will not make them go away. Therefore awards are not bad and also...something something...school awards ceremonies are not deleterious to school children.

2. Giving a 2nd grader an award helps the deserving, awarded child know (reaffirm?) he/she is the best at X and it helps the non-award children realize that the award winner is the best at X, and it helps them accept that they are not as good at X as the award winner is. Therefore, awards ceremonies are good/not bad for school children.

3. People who cite research regarding the negative or counter motivational impact of prizes/awards and conclude that there's good evidence to discontinue the practice consider their children to be pathologically weak, precious snowflakes.

Did I read your words correctly?

You are WAY overthinking this, and attributing negative effects to prizes (i.e. that they encourage bad behavior in the workplace!) that are questionable, at best. I agree with the pp above that children should learn to celebrate other people's victories, and be proud of their own accomplishments. Research on this topic indicates that children should be praised for EFFORT, not innate abilities. So a child getting a prize for effort is not a bad thing. Please show me where ANY research says that an awards certificate is going to do psychological damage to a child. That's your interpretation of a body of research I am familiar with, and I don't agree with your conclusion. I don't even know how you reached your conclusion. I hope you are not so dead-set on cushioning your child from every blow in life, because that will not end well for him/her.

Maybe.

[Anonymous]

Here's what one school did, based on some very sound research. Enjoy!

http://www.thedailyriff.com/articles/virtually-every-type-of-expected-559.php