The principal of Auckland Grammar has labelled a move to do away with school prize-giving potentially "damaging" to student pathways.
Silverdale Primary School and Stella Maris Primary on the Hibiscus Coast said in an October newsletter that the school would not follow through with its end-of-year prize-giving ceremony.
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"I'd describe that sort of behaviour as politically correct and in fact damaging to student pathways from primary into secondary school and, actually, beyond that into life," Headmaster Tim O'Connor told TVNZ.
"The reality is, your school may have done away with winners and losers but life hasn't."
Auckland Grammar streams classes according to academic achievement from A to P, something Mr O'Connor stands by.
He stands by recognising student success at their annual prize giving, unimpressed by Silverdale Primary School's principal Cameron Lockie.
Principal Cameron Lockie addressed parents and caregivers explaining, "Rewards - like punishments - are unnecessary" when the community is already caring and where students have a "significant degree of choice about what, and how, they are learning".
He was quoting Alfie Kohn, author of the book The Risk of Rewards, which claims, "Punishment, even if referred to euphemistically as "consequences," tends to generate anger, defiance, and a desire for revenge".
"There is abundant research showing that awards, rewards and other external incentives undermine intrinsic motivation," Mr Lockie said.
"For the majority of children who don't receive awards, the prizegiving spurs boredom, anger or resentment."
Newshub.
