Letters to the Editor

Achieving students rate recognition, too

Jun 7, 2007 2:02 PM

To the Editor:

I have a son who is a junior at Beach Channel HS and who is in the top 1 percent of his class. His father is an English teacher and I am a pupil accounting secretary in an elementary school.

Recently, my son and several of his friends were given a Golden Award in English because their grades were 90 or better. I was very happy that, finally, the achieving children of the school were getting recognized since schools seem to focus on the students who don’t perform well.

I was present when the awards were given out and, as a parent, I was outraged. Only three English Department teachers were there to hand out the awards to more than 40 students. The department chairperson was also there.

The other English Department teachers couldn’t be bothered to take 20 minutes out of their day for these boys and girls. Some of them didn’t even tell them that they were getting an award. How deplorable!

Also, my son’s homeroom teacher did not find it fit to attend the ceremony.

We live in an age of constantly coddling the students who don’t do well. Teachers bend over backward for them. But what about the kids who excel? They deserve the proper amount of recognition.

The English Department teachers who did not show up for this wonderful event should be ashamed of themselves. Kudos go to Ms. McKenzie, Ms. Bencivenga, Ms. Fisher and Mr. Mizzi for applauding these children with an award for all of their efforts.

Loree Mizzi, PS 51, Queens