Taking Away Class Rank?

Yesterday, I read that they are considering removing class ranking from the Wadsworth High School. No valedictorian, only recogognition for being in the top 10% of the class. Proponents claim that the ranking system causes unhealthy competition and makes students who strive for a high rank feel obligated to take honors classes that they aren't really interested in.

There is so much to be said on something like this because it strikes at the heart of a philosophy that has infiltrated our society. This is, in fact, the same philosophy that accounts for talentless people making fools of themselves on "American Idol" and then reacting to the judges harsh critique with indignance.


They have never been told, "Not good. You are going to have to work a lot harder if you want to be good at this."


Don't get me wrong, I am not for crushing the spirit of children. Absolutely not. Young children need to be encouraged, built up and motivated in order to instill in them a "can do" attitude. Children have a small platform of experience to stand on...we should never push them off it with harsh criticism as they are trying to build their skills.


However, as they grow through the "I know it all" tweens and into the "I really know it all" teens, and head toward adulthood, at some point, they need to learn to handle critiques (especially when they are honest and accurate) without their spirits getting crushed. The infiltrating philosophy that I mentioned earlier is this: No one has a right to tell me I'm bad at something. Unfortunately, enforcing this philosophy requires ignoring and not recognizing those who excel, so that those who don't, won't feel badly. It seems to me this philosophy is what fuels the desire to take away class rank.


Some kids are self-motivated learners who will take the honors classes anyway, others students need a carrot dangled in front of them in order to make those challenging classes worth it. Taking away the ranking system is taking away the biggest carrot. The benefits of succeeding in an honors class go on and on, but it is all delayed gratification, which isn't the first choice of most teenagers. Taking away something that helps students choose the difficult route over the easy route is only hurting the students, and ultimately, our country.

Does this relate to homeschooling? Absolutely. Making sure our children have the experiences that teach them to self evaluate AND accept the constructive criticism of others, is a necessary part of their education to prepare them for life beyond graduation. One way I do this is by having my children involved in ACSI events (spelling bees, speech meets, art festivals, etc...) where their efforts are evaluated by a professional, who is not me. The judges are trained to give appropriate feedback based on the age and experience of the students. Other ways include having my kids grade their own math (and fix every mistake) and discuss each others writing assignments, both of which makes my job easier. More importantly, these things make them more willing to see the good and the bad in what they do without getting their spirits crushed.