Primary School "prize giving"

[Patsygach]

Is it me or is there others out there who are so fed up with current systems of prize giving to the "best" children and not celebrating the achievements of all the children. It was the same system when I was at school many years ago. Why can't schools evolve and progress and stop making lots of great kids feel bad about themselves. It's end of term in Scotland and we have a shamefully elitist system.

I don't actually believe schools should reflect society. They should inspire a better society. And I only believe in awards if they truly motivate people to do better. Most once a year prizes are too distant and unattainable to inspire many. They end up rewarding children who already have the reward of being the best at something. Weekly awards like the head teachers type awards can actually motivate, and even if they don't they can raise self esteem by making children realise that things they've done have been valued, noted and rewarded.

Our Xmas and summer, in church with everyone watching ones were pointless.

They never went to the usual offenders or to quiet hard workers, they just went to a random child who hadn't got one that term.

I think school were desperate not to be seen to reward academic achievement too publicly.

Odd because they didn't care in parents assemblies the rest of the year DD2, her BF and two top table boys got no. Of certificates the rest of the time, but never at the end if term (often the week before), but never in church.

At my dc's primary school the awards all went to the headteacher's favourite families, even if other children were better. In plays in which my dd's year was involved he always used to single out the son of the GP and the family whose children then went on to a posh public school even when they'd only had comparatively minor parts and ignore others who had starring roles. The school also had a tree of kindness for which you could earn leaves - but it was only the really naughty kids who ever got any as the ones who were kind all the time were just ignored. Not a good system!

My prep had annual prize giving with subject prizes - they went to the child who scored the highest mark in their year in that subject in the end of year exams.

Then there were awards for greatest contribution to the school etc.

We had similar prizegiving after sports day with silver cups and individual medals which went away to be engraved.

My sister seemed to win everything - I won a medal once... I still have it and treasure it.

Prizes for all in just ridiculous except in the very early years.