That Naughty Word... Achievement?

When did achievement become a naughty word? Across our nation, the achievements of some are seen as somehow detracting from the self-worth of others. Horrors stories abound of schools where valedictorian status is being ignored, where grades are becoming pointless, and where awards are given to everyone, regardless of merit.

Sadly, this seeping ooze isn't just confined to the educational industry. Just yesterday, after the AFC Divisional Championships (football to the uninitiated) were played and won by the New England Patriots. And guess what those aweful Patriots did. They celebrated their victory. In front of the losing team. Which prompted Charger LaDanian Tomlinson to cry foul. Somehow the Patriots pride of achievement was 'disrepecting' the Chargers. Now I'm not a Patriots fan by any stretch of the imagination, but they played a good game, they busted their butts and they came out victorious. In my world, that's cause for celebration. I don't know what it's like in Mr. Tomlinson's world. (And I don't want to.)

Back to the realm of education, though, I was disheartened to learn in my brother's school district, his sons are no longer able to receive As. It appears that when some children get As, other children feel bad. So, rather than encouraging the children to achieve, they leveled the playing field. If everyone is mediocre, no one feels bad... Oh, unless you count the kids who did work hard to achieve those As and now aren't getting them. But we don't worry about the achievers in this world, so long as the udnerachievers aren't feeling bad.

I was also disheartened to see my daughter's last public school report card--which no longer has a standard grade scale, but some bastardized happy-crappy system of other letters where As now stand for 'Adequate' and the highest score a child can get is a P. ("Hey Mom! I got all Ps!" "Peas? I thought you hated peas.")

On a positive note, a silly little sit-com named 'Yes, Dear' had entire show dedicated to poking fun at the 'everyone gets an award' mentality. (The show's not the best, but every once in a while it says something intelligent... Okay, maybe less than that, but still.)

There's something wrong in a world that no longer celebrates achievement, and unfortunately, it won't be going away any time soon. After all, look what we're teaching our children.

(Oh, and Mr. Tomlinson? You should be ashamed of yourself.)