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Life isn't fair so let's stop coddling our kids
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A Texas school won't allow members of the National Honor Society to wear graduation stoles. Erin Stewart says it's another example of how we are messing up our kids by tiptoeing around hurt feelings. - photo by Erin Stewart
I may scream if I see one more politically correct, "dont hurt anyones feelings" movement in America.

Seriously, when did we all get to be such wimps?

The latest is news out of Plano, Texas, where students at the local high school will not be allowed to wear the graduation robe accessory for membership in the National Honor Society. The decorative neck stole signifies the wearer earned a consistently high GPA and completed a minimum amount of community service hours each semester.

Parents of students say school administrators want everyone to feel included in graduation and not singled out.

That makes sense because why would we want to recognize someone for serving their community and meeting high academic standards? What kind of message would that send?

Come on, people. These are 18-year-olds about to graduate high school, so why are we treating them like toddlers?

The kids who worked hard to get into the National Honor Society should be applauded for their efforts. They should be singled out for achievements and rewarded for hard work, good grades and service.

Im not even that worried about the kids in the National Honor Society who dont get to wear the stole. Sure, its a disappointment for those kids, but thats all it is. The kids Im worried about are the ones who are getting the message that life should be fair and equal no matter how hard you work or dont work. They are being taught that other peoples success is somehow offensive.

Those are the kids that end up entitled, wondering where their participation ribbon is for life because hey, at least they showed up.

If we coddle every child who passes through our public education system, we are going to be churning out a bunch of grads who dont take responsibility for anything and expect the world to kiss their boo-boos and make everything all better.

Life is unfair. Your feelings will get hurt. Other people will be more successful than you most of the time. But hard work pays off, so stop complaining and get to it.

Denying the kids in the National Honor Society this small honor just punishes students who worked hard and patronizes kids who didnt make the cut this time.

I hope my kids grow up knowing better than to begrudge other people their achievements. I hope they know the pie of success is ever expanding and that someone elses accomplishments dont take away from their own.

In short, I hope they have pride in every ounce of success they earn and enough humility to applaud others who may have more.
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