Meg’s thoughts on school district perfectionism

The Bentonville School District is really very very good at being the best at everything. BEST football, BEST choirs, BEST basketball, BEST forensics, BEST orchestras, BEST swim team, BEST marching band and the list goes on. The district motto is “Where Excellence Lives” and High school activities are curated competitively to achieve that.  

I believe striving for excellence is a good way to build.  Aim high. Eye on the prize. Reach for the stars. But don’t be afraid to fail!  I believe the perfectionist mentality has become the primary focus of education as a whole, but has particularly taken over the enriching benefits of the actual activities.  

One example, junior high cross country made cuts last fall. Junior. High. For being seconds too slow.   And what’s extra sad is that the team only cut two students for this. Two kids. For seconds. I don’t really need to explain what’s wrong with this scenario, because it is obvious, right?  Ok carry on. 

Since this blog is for my posterity, I want my children to know that this mindset is not in alliance with my educational ideology.  It’s like a soccer team that only focuses on the win, rather than how the players and skills develop as they practice and play the game.  

Moving on to musical endeavors, the district follows the same policy. “If you’re not first, you’re last.” And at this time of year, beginning with all region and all state auditions leading up to assessments for statewide school orchestra rankings, Tuesday morning before-school sectional rehearsals, week-long priority hour rehearsals, and additional after school and evening rehearsals get added to the schedule.  

I appreciate the extra hours of commitment that dedicated teachers are putting into these events.  I can’t help but wonder if job security in the Bentonville School District runs on the same hierarchy as student activities, because the student rankings seem to determine teacher value.  A win is so fun to celebrate! Being accomplished in something feels wonderful and can bring immeasurable happiness and satisfaction.  But how does a mother teach her children that their worth is not defined by accomplishments? Epecially when this is modeled by district staff?  Orchestra lost all joy for Reese when the goal went from making beautiful music to being number one. Quincy loves orchestra, and is driven to continue improving her talent. She is very aware of the wet blanket of anxious perfectionism that is thrown over the students and loathes the way it’s putting out their passion and love for orchestra one smoldered student at a time.  Their “try try try” is turning into task based anxiety. 

I seek for them to gain work ethic and understand the effort = results formula. But I don’t think humans should define their value on the outcome.   Nor do I believe that “success” of the formula = wins and “excellence.”  There are just too many unseen lessons to hang worth on wins or being superlative.