We had our middle school's annual honors awards banquet tonight. This is the sixth year I've been teaching at this school and the sixth time I've attended. Is it a night of my free time that I spend to attend? Yes. Do I have to go (is there any mandate or official remuneration for going)? No. Do I attend grudgingly because of an unofficial expectation? Surprisingly, no. Is it nerve wracking being up on the stage to give the awards, even if I'm not speaking? Yes.
Why do I go? I go for the kids. I go because this is one time during the year where the only expectation is to honor kids who go the extra distance to do remarkable things. Is it geared towards academics? Yes, but it also goes beyond. There are kids who are invited because their grades have been stellar all year long, but we also invite students who have done something special. These reason range from doing good things for others, being helpful, being a positive leader, basically just being awesome for the sake of being awesome.
That being said, I cannot understand why people would regularly not attend. Sure, things come up once in a while, but aside from that, what message is being sent to the kids. "I'll teach you during the day, but beyond my classroom doors, you don't exist to me." It bothers me that there is not a better representation on a consistent basis.
Am I trying to put anyone on a guilt trip? No. I just don't understand why, if our primary responsibility and focus is on our students, everyone wouldn't make an effort to attend. This isn't a night to make a statement that one doesn't feel valued by the administration or some other gripe. We are honoring our best and that should go above politics and conditions that they have no role in or control over.
Every year I love seeing the reactions of different students to the awards they get and the public attention for something good that many often fail to receive. We have some great students. We need to let them know. Being there is the first step.
