Ipswich Middle School Principal Fabrizio Cancels ‘Honors Night’ Because It Might Upset & Be “Devastating” to Students Who Didn’t Make The Grade

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE COUNTRY I GREW UP IN: EDUCATION HONOR EDITION:

What is going on in out schools? The latest head scratching incident comes from Ipswich, Massachusetts. David Fabrizio, Ipswich Middle School Principal, has canceled ‘Honors Night’ because it might make some students feel uncomfortable and upset who did not make the grade. ARE YOU SERIOUS? David Fabrizio wrote in a letter sent to parents that, “honors night, which can be a great sense of pride for the recipients’ families, can also be devastating to a child …” INCREDIBLE.  Devastating to average students, are you friggin stupid? How about devastating to those who actually made the effort to succeed?  This is what passes as a principal into today’s liberal public schools. They care more about how some one feels who fails, rather than rewarding those who actually succeed. I would ask this foolish and misguided principal, why give grades? Schools are supposed to uplift students, not gum down the education to the lowest common denominator. Let’s celebrate underachieving, way to go Principal Fabrizio. Welcome to the Nanny state collective, where liberals think its only fair that all are treated the same, even though all do not put forth the same effort.

In a letter sent home to parents last week, Fabrizio said that it is the school’s job to monitor both academic and social emotional growth. Concentrating on grades, “as strange as it sounds, can impinge upon the learning process,” he wrote.

“The honors night, which can be a great sense of pride for the recipients’ families, can also be devastating to a child who has worked extremely hard in a difficult class but who, despite growth, has not been able to maintain a high grade point average,” Fabrizio wrote.

Fabrizio emphasized that the school hasn’t ended honors recognition and that it believes in high achievement in all aspects of students’ lives.

“We are still honoring success, we are just doing it in a different form,” he said.

However, the idea of ending honors night isn’t sitting well with many parents.

“I think the school should be committed to excellence and not mediocrity,” Gillis said. “I was shocked because to get on the honor roll, you have to work hard. They shouldn’t cancel (honors night) because somebody’s feelings could be hurt. Life is a competition, and they should start competing.”

Kevin Whooley, who has a daughter in eighth grade, said many parents are “dumbfounded” as to why the honors night needed to be canceled.

“They have had honors night here for years, and there is no reason not to continue it,” he said. “It is like having a sports banquet for those who play sports. Not everyone makes honors. You can’t be politically correct about everything.”

I remember a world, not too long ago, where schools rewarded students who showed effort and success. I remember an academic environment when those who went the extra mile were rewarded for their merit. Not in today’s Middle School academia. What a message this sends to an impressionable child at such a young age … STRIVE TO BE AVERAGE.

We second the idea of the Jawa Report and contact this school and let them know your opinion. This school is not doing their students any favors. What a message, Let’s be average. The contact Info, in case you want to let this Principal know how stupid and unfair this policy is to the children who deserve recognition: (remember, be civil)

• Ipswich Middle School
• David Fabrizio, Principal
• 130 High Street Ipswich, MA 01938
• Phone 978-356-3535 – Fax 978-412-8169

Just curious … wouldn’t it be more devastating to the so-called average students if the smart kids got their awards in front of them at an assembly in front of the whole school, rather than a special night of just the honor’s students? The principals explanation of why he made this change makes no sense other than the fact that he must feel its not fair for some kids to get awards and others not. A note to Principal Fabrizio, life is not fair and you are doing none of these students any favors.