Publishing School Honor Roll Names Too Stressful For Those... er, Not On The List?

File this under: It's getting weirder & weirder out there.

H.S. Halts Publication of Honor Roll
Needham High Cites Stress On Students As Major Reason

By Jim Boyd
Special Correspondent

NEEDHAM, Mass. -- Needham High School has abandoned its long-standing practice of publishing the names of students who make the honor roll in the local newspaper.

Principal Paul Richards said a key reason for stopping the practice is its contribution to students' stress level in "This high expectations-high-achievement culture."

The proposal to stop publishing the honor roll came from a parent. Richards took the issue before the school council, which approved it. Parents were notified of the decision last month. Richards said he received about 60 responses from both parents and students and the feedback has been evenly split for and against.

Richards said one parent with three children attending Needham High told him publishing the honor roll is a constant cause of stress in her family. According to that parent, one of the three students routinely made the honor roll while the other two did not.

Hm. I have to wonder if this principal ever made the honor roll when he was in high school. Check out this convoluted metaphor:

Needham High's principal said the decision to no longer publish the honor roll is not nailed in cement. Richards said it is "subject to review." He said, "We'll go through this year without it and assess the impact on the school culture."

Not nailed in cement?

And by the way, isn't it just as stressful for students who didn't make the football team to read all of those newspaper stories about the team? What about those who didn't make prom court?

Nail that in your demented cement, Principal Richards.

Best bar bet in the world: Delilah didn't do it.
Judges 16:19-- And she made him (Samson) sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head.