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A recent MFP poll has found that students are disappointed
and dissatisfied with the current system of awards at Martingrove.
Along with general criticisms of academic and extra-curricular
awards, students also took the opportunity to voice their
displeasure with the Bear Points system.
With the Martingrove awards ceremony looming, the opinions
of these students are especially relevant. Many believe
that a small majority of students are receiving the vast
majority of the awards making this ceremony largely self-congratulatory.
The length and endless praise of the award ceremony also
bothered some students. "It's just so insincere,"
remarked one senior student.
Even those who have received awards in the past are not
entirely satisfied. One student, a past recipient of the
prestigious White Bear Award, said that "while there
are real student achievements that should be recognized,
their significance is diminished by the large quantity of
lesser awards." The issue of proficiency awards is
also contentious. ("Proficiency awards for everyone",
Nov. 6th, 2002) As these awards are often limited to one
per person they are often not awarded to the person who
actually deserves them.
Several students also said that they believed that the
Bear awards created an artificial and unnecessary incentive
to join clubs. "The emphasis is clearly on quantity,
not quality," said one student, "…assuming
executive responsibilities should be its own reward."
Not all students were unsatisfied with the current system.
One grade eleven student defended the role the Bear Awards
play. "They recognize the achievements of some students
that would otherwise be ignored by most people. Some of
them work really hard but nobody knows it. I think the [Bear
Awards] are very important."
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