Follow-up
Last week I reported that my son was to receive an award at the high school this week. There were reasonably two things it could have been for: his achievements in his extracurricular activity and for the good work he did in his broadcasting class.
Because his extracurricular activity is a competitive one, it seemed redundant to get an award from the high school for something he already has competed and been judged in. An award for broadcasting, in which he plans to major in college, would mean a lot more. So I was very pleased that that’s what he won the award in, and so was he.
It was quite an interesting night. On the one hand, I was happy to see so many kids I knew receiving awards. I taught in the computer lab in my kids’ elementary school for five years so know a lot of kids in town. It was great both to see my former students and to see what they ended up excelling in.
But on the other hand, there is something really warped about this event. There were about 150 awards given out and for the most part it was based on high (and in some cases spectacular) achievement in an academic subject. It seems to me these kids are rewarded with good grades and a high GPA, and are recognized with scholarships and admission to fine universities. These seem like the people least in need of public reward.
The only category of award that didn’t seem to have much to do with grades and super-high achievement was English. These students—for the most part—were recognized for offering something unique, regardless of GPA. It seemed to me that this was more in the spirit of an awards night, not just a parade of the brightest kids in the school.
But yah, okay, I’m glad my son got one for his fine work with video. It’s bound to help, and he’s a kid who could use some help.
Anyhow, that’s all good. I’m otherwise tired and burnt out. My mom is visiting with me while my father has surgery (they did the surgery today—on his spine—and that seemed to go well) so we’ll see how that goes. Tomorrow we’ll go down to the hospital in the a.m. to see my dad. Saturday I would generally want to be at my son’s baseball doubleheader in the a.m., but I’m not sure if I can schlep my mother to the games, and I’m not sure if I can leave her here, without a car. Or if she’ll want to go into Boston first thing in the a.m., or if it can wait until after the game. Or if she’ll be up to going to the movies Saturday night, which is what I want to do.
Somehow I have to mow the lawn with my dead lawn mower, seed and fertilize it (running late now for that…the crabgrass is already starting…), and I don’t know what all else. I think I’ll take it one step at a time, which starts with going to sleep now.
You try to have a good weekend, even if I can’t, and Happy Mother’s Day, if it applies.
