Cyndi's Two Cents

Keep class ranks

Commentary.

One of our friends stopped by recently for a visit the day after his family Christmas get-together.  He loves spending time with his nieces and nephews and is proud of all of them.  They are each special in their own way. He told us his niece, a senior in high school, is one of the smartest people he knows.

“She scored a 36 on her ACT test.  That’s a perfect score,” my friend the uncle proudly stated.  “And she only took it one time!”

This 36 is an average of scores in the subject areas Math, Science, English and Reading. According to PrepScholar, only 0.136 percent of those taking the ACT test earn a perfect score.

The proud uncle beamed as he named some of the prestigious universities that have offered his super-smart niece academic scholarships.

“She would be valedictorian of her class if they hadn’t phased that out,” he said.

Phased it out?  What?  I was incredulous when he explained that his niece’s high school had phased out the class rank because it wasn’t inclusive and bred unhealthy competition among students.  I had no idea!

I’ve since learned that many schools across the country have done away with the class ranking system, calling it an outdated practice that creates an environment of unnecessary competition.  Apparently, it makes more sense to encourage young people to be easily offended, entitled and with socialist leanings.

I can scarcely fathom the idea that by eliminating the valedictorian and salutatorian class ranks we are making the world a better place for all in the graduating class.  It certainly isn’t helping make the world a better place for everyone who is already living and working in it.

The mindset that everyone deserves a trophy or a ribbon for participating is completely out of hand.  I don’t like the term “snowflake”, but this is just one of many examples that I believe is creating individuals with little psychological resilience who are unable to cope in “the real world.”

The real world is a tough and dangerous place.  It’s not for the faint of heart.  But it is also a beautiful place with great opportunities for those who work hard.  There are many good people but not everyone is a good person every single day.  Being kind is important but knowing how to handle a world that doesn’t always reciprocate may be even more so.

When I’m hiring people for my team, I’m not necessarily seeking out those who made straight A’s, but I am looking for those with a little fire in the belly.  Someone too fragile to cope who embraces mediocrity and wants a pat on the back for participating wouldn’t enjoy working with me or my team.