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As a current K-5 special education teacher I also despise these award ceremonies. Most of my students with learning disabilities do not get awards. I also have a mixed special/general ed class for struggling readers. They come to this reading class instead of taking science and social studies as 4th/5th graders, and they do not get grades in those two subjects. Even if they had an A/B in math and in their classroom reading, the teachers refused to put them on the honor roll since they did not have grades in sc/ss. My students figured this out so I had them write persuasive letters - and the policy was changed! Then one teacher decided she would have to change her grading policy because these kids didn't deserve to be on the honor roll!!!
My daughter was on the A/B honor roll the last two quarters last school year in 4th grade (she had only started school the 2nd quarter). Her teacher felt she had enough info to say she had earned the award. She has not made the honor roll this year. She has the teacher described above and she told me, "I'm not going to give her a good grade just for effort!"
Our school had eliminated the honor roll, but then parents complained and the PTA took over so we no longer have a choice. It's the high achieving students' parents who run the show.
I would agree with in-class presentations as long as every student is recognized, and only for 4th/5th graders. However, a few years ago our PTA decided to have 5th grade students vote for "Class Brain", "Class Clown", "Cutest Boy/Girl", others, and even "Class Couple"!!! Now that is inappropriate!
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