Mason does away with valedictorian, salutatorian distinctions to 'reduce competitive culture' Share Shares Copy Link Copy

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MIKE MASON HIGH SCHOOL IS DOING AWAY WITH VALEDICTORIAN AND SALUTATORIAN RECOGNITION BY NEXT YEAR. SHEREE: THE DECISION IS PART OF A MUCH LARGER EFFORT TO REDUCE DRESS AND ANXIETY. STUDENTS. -- STRESS AND ANXIETY FOR SOME OF ITS STUDENTS. REPORTER: IT REALLY HAS PEOPLE FIRED UP ON SOCIAL MEDIA. SOME PEOPLE THINK THIS IS NOT A GOOD IDEA BECAUSE IT DOES NOT PREPARE STUDENTS FOR THE REAL WORLD, WHERE COMPETITION IS INEVITABLE. >> WE SHOULD HAVE FUN IN HIGH SCHOOL AND NOT TRY TO PUSH OURSELVES TO THE MAX. REPORTER: RYAN GRIFFITH HAS ALWAYS STRIVED TO BE A WELL-ROUNDED STUDENT, HE’S ON THE LACROSSE TEAM, HE SWIMS, A IS EVEN A HOPE SQUAD MEMBER, HELPING CLASSMATE WHO MAY STRUGGLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. >> I DEFINITELY THINK THOSE HAVE CHANGED MY LIFE INTO A POSITIVE WAY AND KIND OF BUILT MY PERSONALITY AND MY CHARACTER. REPORTER: HE SAYS THE STRESSES OF ACADEMIC ACHIEVMENT OFTEN DETER STUDENTS FROM PURSUING THEIR OWN PASSIONS AND BEING THE BEST THEY CAN BE. IT’S WHY HE’S ON BOARD WITH MASON HIGH SCHOOL’S NEWEST DECISION, ELIMINATING VALEDICTORIAN AND SALUTATORIAN RECOGNITION. >> I THINK IN THE LONG RUN IT’LL REALLY GOING TO CHANGE THE ATMOSPHERE IN THE SCHOOL IN A POSITIVE WAY. REPORTER: BUT THE DECISION HAS ALSO STIRRED UP A LOT OF CRITICISM ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WITH HUNDREDS WEIGHING IN ON OUR WLWT FACEBOOK PAGE. WHAT’S WRONG WITH TRYING TO HAVE THE BEST GPA? ONE PERSON COMMENTED. ANOTHER, JUST CALL THE ENTIRE CLASS UP AND GIVE EVERYONE A PARTICIPATION RIBBON. ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL SHANNA BUMILLER IS AWARE OF THE MIXED OPINIONS BUT SAYS MANY OTHER SCHOOLS NATIONALLY ARE DOING THE SAME THING. >> WHAT IT MEANS TO BE HAPPY AND WHAT IT MEANS TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT THE GRADE BUT IT’S ABOUT THE WHOLE CHILD. REPORTER: SHE SAYS THE MOVE IS PART OF THE SCHOOL’S LARGER EFFORT TO REDUCE ANXIETY, DEPRESSION AND INSTANCES OF SUICIDE. >> IT COMES FROM FEELING INADEQUATE, THE CHAS REPORTER: GRIFFITH AND BUMILLER THINKS THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH SOME HEALTHY COMPEITION. BUT SAY OBSESSING OVER BEING THE BEST NEEDS TO CHANGE. >> JUST TAKING OFF THAT STRESS KNOWING HEY, IF IT COMES TO THE FINAL AND I GET A B, IT’S OK REPORTER: THEY WILL STILL BE RECOGNIZING STUDENTS TO ACHIEVE HIGH HONORS BUT DO IT IN DIFFERENT WAYS. SHEREE: THANK YOU. MASON HIGH SCHOOL IS ALSO CHANGING THE WAY IT CALCULATES GPA BEGINNING NEXT YEAR AS WELL. THE GOAL IS TO ENCOURAGE STUDENT TO TAKE CLASSES THAT INTEREST THEM INS

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