I would like an opinion of a few things... Our local PTO had an ice cream party for students that made the honor roll, those that didn't received nothing. Do you think this is right? When this subject was brought up to a school administrator, it must have been conveyed to the local PTO, because a letter was sent home with students saying

"This reward program in all about POSITIVE REENFORCEMENTS! When our children do what is required of them, it's a great feeling to be rewarded. It makes our kids continue to want to work hard!"

I have an argument against all this, but would like to get other's opinion.

How sad!! I thought the grade was the reward. The PTO should reward the students with something "educational" for all, maybe to help the ones who didn't make honor roll better achieve that goal..ie. books, laptops, materials, etc....

Sorry....I have no issue with this at all. We're getting so sensitive about hurting someone's feelings, that we've transformed what was once probably a good, but mis-guided intention into a situation where those that achieve aren't getting their due out of concern for those that didn't achieve. The fact of the matter is that not everyone did the work, so not everyone gets the reward. For the others, well...it's something to aspire to. This is life -- and it's a good lesson for kids to learn from the start so they aren't shocked and disappointed when the real world brutally teaches them otherwise.

I agree with Jewel 100%

This isn't a sales event (which is where I have problems with incentives). Everyone has a level playing field in getting good grades and this incentive was focused on rewarding personal effort....If you get good grades it is a direct result of your personal effort toward learning. I don't have a problem with that at all.

That's what A/B honor role recognition does all the time.
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Our school does rewards for A-B honor roll and I think it is very important. Around here, most of the funds and extra attention goes to the students who have poor grades and behavior problems. I think you need to reward those who do well! Positive reinforment is better than having to deal with negative punishment! Maybe that will make students strive to do better.