Undeserved Reward in Schools

Posted by Mr. Wykes for Crane:

Educators and psychologists say we're bringing up a generation of people with higher “self esteem.” I say we're raising a group of aimless individuals who can't tell failure from success. All in the name of the avoidance of hurt feelings, the powers that be have decided that such labels are inappropriate, or that only “success” be used. They find it too demeaning to tell a student that what they've done is not acceptable or satisfactory, or even to admit another's work surpasses it. This leads to what we have now, a belief system where “everyone wins,” which is truly the same as everyone losing.

What these well meaning leaders are striving for is equality: equality and the removal of any way to rise above and be rewarded for one's achievements. When an individual is unable to gain extra reward or recognition for above average abilities and accomplishments, it is well known what happens.

Whatever group is doing the equalizing becomes yet another example of what happened to Communism. When poor work and exemplary work are equally rewarded, there is no reason to do well. If equal reward is given to a C student and an A student, why put in the extra work for an A? Drive and purpose is stripped from those who could aptly use them.

Fortunately, we aren't quite this far, yet. A straight A student who scored a 32 on the ACT will be accepted into a college far ahead of a C student who earned an 18. But we are moving farther down the road of equality. Look at all the opportunities that are given to failing students in public schools. It is literally illegal to expel someone for getting Fs, unless they do so until they are no longer eligible for high school. Why is this? Why can failure not be met with its just reward? If a student is not so handicapped as to be placed in special education, they have no excuse to fail school. In fact, such students could not fail if they only put forth effort, but now when they don't, there is always some way it isn't their fault.

The danger here is that we may soon apply this logic to the other end of the grading scale. For true equality, not rewarding high achievers is just as necessary as not punishing those who achieve nothing. This is where we are headed if we continue down this road. And the potential effect most don't realize is the destruction of our schools' efficiency. When the great goal of full equality is reached and all students will receive the same treatment for all levels of effort and talent, there will be absolutely no reason to work harder and do better. Just as in Communist nations, the output and productiveness of every person will be identical, which means it will all be mediocre. Equality works; everything is brought down to the level of the lowest common denominator.

This attitude of making everyone feel good about themselves no matter how they perform may sound like the politically correct and “kind” way of doing things. In fact, it is. But it isn't the logical and beneficial method. As long as there is varying reward for varying levels of aptitude and success, society will run as it should. But when the day of full equality dawns, I fear what will happen to our educational system and all that it effects.