If it's everybody's, it's nobody's (public land). If everyone is responsible, no one is (it takes a village, liability lawsuits). If everyone is special, no one is (public education):
When Kyra Rogers was younger, she dreamed of being one of those students who had earned a 4.0 GPA - and the right to wear a white robe in the front row at Durango High School's graduation.
"It was motivational for me when I saw it," she said of the robes.
Rogers, part of the class of 2008, earned perfect grades and looked forward to the honor. Then she heard that Principal Diane Lashinsky planned to end the tradition.
"We had the rug pulled out from under us," said Jessica Branson, another member of the Class of 2008 with perfect grades.
Students who earned at least a 4.0 GPA will be recognized by cords, and mentioned in the program at the May 24 graduation ceremony. But this year, the 4.0 students will wear red robes along with all their classmates.
[. . .]
Lashinsky was traveling and could not be reached for comment Wednesday. But she explained her decision in a recent newsletter.
"Every graduate has met the graduation requirements, and every child is special on graduation day," Lashinsky wrote. "I feel the white gowns worn by some graduates diminish the accomplishment and hard work of other graduates by relative comparison."
That lousy, elitist 4.0 student thinks "motivation" to excel is important? Someone dares to go to the "everyone is special" ceremony with perfect grades? No place in the self-esteem movement for her!
