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“You teach kids how to win, you teach kids how to lose,” Mr. Redelback added. “But you also teach them how to improve themselves and give them goals to strive for.”

The school’s letter to parents cites the work of education guru Alfie Kohn, who contends that “dangling rewards in front of children are at best ineffective, and at worst counterproductive.”

School principal Craig Kittelson acknowledged that line of thinking runs counter to tradition, but the school has the best interest of its students in mind.

“We’re not saying not to set high goals,” Mr. Kittelson said. “We’re still striving to get them to do their best. Kids want to do their best and we want to support them in doing their best.”

Mary Martin, chair of the Calgary Catholic School District, would not say whether she backs the decision, but that she supports allowing schools to make their own choices based on their unique circumstances.

“I am aware of some schools where there has been a movement away from the one or two times a year where you stand up and get these certificates,” Ms. Martin said. “And the reason they are doing that is they are trying to reward students in a way that’s relevant to their kids and more frequently.”

An earlier forum on academic awards in the Calgary Catholic School District had revealed divisions among school administrators, trustees and parents on the effects that formal recognition has on students.

‘You teach kids how to win, you teach kids how to lose’

There were concerns among those attending the forum that honours and award programs can sow jealousy among classmates, cause undue stress and spur children who are not top achievers to give up because they never win.