In an attempt to equalize students’ accomplishments, schools in Nashville, Tennessee have stopped posting honor rolls. This rule begs the question: Why should athletic, musical and dramatic excellence be recognized, but not academics?

In an Associated Press story picked up by The Fresno Bee, parents are allegedly disturbed by this action. The Bee article, “Schools May Ban Honor Roll Listings,” by Matt Gouras, was published Jan. 25.

“This is as backwards as it get,” Miriam Mimms, mother of a Nashville student, said. “There has to be a way to come back from the rigidity.”

While ignoring the achievements of hard workers may make those who are struggling feel better, it undermines the importance of working hard in school and sends the message that standards will continue to drop as long as some students continue to fail.

Administrators agree that the events in Nashville will have no effect on this campus in the near future.

“I believe every student has the opportunity to make the honor roll,” Principal Gary Schultz said. “I think ninety percent of students here could make it if they worked hard enough. I don’t think the honor roll system should be taken away to make the students who aren’t working hard feel better. They should feel bad for not working hard!”

Some students are in favor of doing away with honor roll.

“I never make honor roll so I don’t really care about it,” Derek George, ?06, said. “It’s not fair to give some students awards and not others; I feel left out.”

However, student complaints will not sway Schultz in his commitment to keep the honor roll intact.

“Nothing I can think of could make me get rid of the honor roll,”” Mr. Schultz said. “If we really wanted to make classes harder or easier we would just tell the teachers to make their tests harder or easier.”

Students agree that awards and honor roll recognition are motivating goals for teens.

“I always try to make honor roll, and it would be horrible not to continue rewarding people for doing well,” Brittany Motte, ?07, said. “Honor roll should definitely be kept to help motivate students to work hard.”

For more information on the honor roll changes in Tennessee, visit www.adn.com/24hour/nation/story/1129047p-7857651c.html.” “” “” “” “” “Tennessee school’s honor rolls under privacy scrutiny