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Show Dear Students: The Utah High School Athletic association in accord with a ruling of the National Federation of Secondary schools, prohibits the giving of awards to athletes, above the value of One Dollar. Now, as everyone knows a One Dollar medal is hardly worth cherishing. It is doubtful whether it is worth giving. This situation opens up again the whole award question. Who, in a modern public high school is entitled to award? Is it the best student, the best athlete, the best singer, the best speaker, the best debater, the most beautiful student, or should it be given to the most industrious, the most regular or the most delinquent student. It would seem that this latter student needs most the encouragement of an award. Some one must say who are to have awards. Who, even among the teachers is capable of picking out the most deserving student: Whoever attempts to do this will probably find later that he might better have awarded some one other than the one selected. Does the giving of an award to a special few help school morale? Does it encourage all the other students to do better work? Does a medal make a good student a better student? Is one entitled to special honors because he does some piece of work especially well. To our mind the "having done a fine piece of work" is its own fine reward. Why cheapen it by giving a medal, especially when you know that possibly some other student has really made more progress, has made more sacrifices, has overcome more difficulties and yet receives no award nor recognition. Because, then, of its aristocratic tendences, because of its injustice, because of its futility, we believe the whole system of giving awards is wrong and should be done away with. Ultimately all schools will ban the system. If eventually, why not now. Why should not Ogden High School lead out now by deciding that we shall give no more awards; that we shall work for the good of all and cease favoring a few; that we shall realize truly that it is more blessed to give than to receive; that we shall give always the best that is in us and shall work harmoniously together for the building of one of the best high schools it is possible to build. These ideas, may not be your ideas, but they are at least, worthy of your consideration. We have no desire to arbitrarily institute any policy in the Ogden High, but wish the approval and cooperation of all students in whatever plan is adopted concerning the giving of awards. We wish you to consider the matter carefully and to vote your own best judgment. Three plans have been recommended and you are respectfully asked to vote your choice. 1. Shall we do away with awards altogether and set aside annually $150.00 award money to buy something beautiful and useful for Ogden High. YES NO 2. Shall we give One Dollar medals to athletes, debaters, orators, members of school play cast, the leads in school opera, editors and managers year book and classicum and student body president. YES NO 3. Shall we give annually not more than ten gold medals block O’s and bars, for special students for distinguished service during high school career? YES NO |
