Strivers
Earning
the highest grades many not get you into the college of your choice. Scoring
the most points won’t get you a bigger trophy. In a world set-up to protect
laggers, high-achievers feel slighted at times.
Throughout childhood Amiee, 18, strived for excellence. She graduated
with high grades and high test scores, but now she’s bagging video games
at a retail store, rather than bagging books.
“What’s really the point of having a high G.P.A or high S.A.T. if you
happen to be male, happen to be African American, if you happen to be
white,” she said.
It’s a subtle cynicism spreading among high achieving kids losing out
to factors beyond their control. But attempts to even out the competition
are not limited to the classroom.
On the soccer fields, on the basketball court, rules are being set-up
to level the playing field. Everyone gets a trophy regardless of how many
practices they missed.
“Sometimes people like, they don’t try and then they get the trophy and
they think they did all of it, but they usually didn’t,” said Valerie,
12.
Dr. Frank Batkins, Psychologist, said that parents need to reinforce hard work.
What Parents Should Know
Motivation.
Achievement. Success. What does all of this mean? Many kids aren’t sure.
In a society with “everyone gets a trophy syndrome,” the defining line
between an over-achiever and an under-achiever is blurred.
A child gives 110% and takes great pride in his efforts. Most will agree
that he deserves an award at the end of the school year, or a trophy at
the end of the season. He usually gets one. But, the guy who took the
laizze fare attitude and did what it takes to merely “get by” gets the
same prize.
Critics claim that in rewarding mediocrity neither child wins. The kid
that worked hard looks next to him and sees the kid who hardly worked,
and wonders if his extra efforts were a waste of time. The child who skimmed
the surface is positively reinforced for laziness.
Many hard working kids reap the benefits of their labor through parental applause. When a parents are in tune with a child’s motivation and achievement, they can merit a child’s success through praise. Experts claim that teaching a child to internalize achievement and be satisfied with self approval, gives them a valuable asset applicable throughout life. Since the good guy doesn’t always win in the real world, the ability to pat yourself on the back may just come in handy.
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“What’s really the point of having a high G.P.A or high S.A.T. if you happen to be male, happen to be African American, if you happen to be white.” --Aimme age 18 |
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A Piece of the Prize The
Nobel Peace Prize is likely the most internationally respected award
in existence. On October 15, the Norwegion Nobel Committee granted Doctors Without Borders, an international medical relief organization, the 2000 Nobel Peace Prize. The organization is devoted to administering medical aid to more than 80 countries across the globe. Sufferers of natural and man-made disasters have received help from the private organization since 1971. |
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"Strivers" Take the Grade The
makers of the SAT are attempting to level the playing field for
test-takers. If a student falls into the “Strivers” category, more
than his test scores will be graded.
The Educational Testing Service looks at 14 areas, including race,
family income, and quality of their schools. If these factors indicate
that the child was environmentally disadvantaged, he is considered
a striver and is granted extra points accordingly. The motive behind
the program is to give the less advantaged a greater opportunity
for success. Critics claim that, in an attempt to find equality, the ETS is giving an unfair advantage to strivers, slapping many students with higher scores in the face with college rejection letters. |
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Resources
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