- The Washington Times - Tuesday, May 20, 2014

A Rhode Island middle school is canceling its long-running “Honors Night” event for exceptional students, because school officials are afraid its “exclusive nature” will make others feel left out.

In a letter sent to parents, Principal Alexis Meyer and Assistant Principal Dan Seger of Archie R. Cole Junior High School in East Greenwich claim that “members of the school community have long expressed concerns related to the exclusive nature of Honors Night,” a local ABC affiliate reported.

They go on to say that the school will recognize students during “team-based recognition ceremonies and graduation.”

“This will afford us the opportunity to celebrate the individual and collective successes of all students and their effort, progress, and excellence,” they said.

Some parents are afraid the change will discourage kids from working harder to try and make the honor list, the station reported.

“How else are they suppose to learn coping skills, not just based on success, but relative failure?” asked parent Joe Kosloski.

His daughter Kaitlyn didn’t make the cut to attend the event last year.

“That made me wanna work harder and a lot of other people work harder, so just the fact you can’t work towards it anymore then there is no goal,” she told ABC.

Changes are also being made to the middle school’s sports awards.

• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.

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