By Joe Nathan
 High school letters mean more than they once did.  That’s good. North Branch, Rush City and other Minnesota high schools are recognizing a broad range of students’ accomplishments.

There was a time when many high schools gave letters only for participation in sports.  About 15 years ago, I wrote a column about an intense controversy in a southern suburban community when a student recommended that her school award letters to students who excelled in academics.  Several athletic coaches strongly disagreed.

 Fortunately the school administration decided that the young woman was right.  Giving a school’s letter means that a school is honoring a student’s accomplishments, whether in athletics, academics or arts.

 It’s fine to awarding letters for athletic participation. But that should not be the only accomplishment that is recognized.

 Rush City High School administrator Kim Erdman explained that “Besides sports, our students can letter in ‘A Honor Roll,’ One-Act Play, All School Play, Choir, Jazz Band, Band, Speech and Yearbook. “

 Brad Windschill, North Branch Area High School principal, explained that students with high grade point averages (3.8 as a sophomore, 3.7 as a junior or senior) earn an letter, or if they already have a letter, a certificate. Mike Cunningham, North Branch Area High School activities director says that the school allows students to letter in a number of things.  In addition to athletics, this includes but is not limited to academics and competitive activities like speech, academics, knowledge bowl, math league, one act, some musical activities, FFA, and Yearbook.

 Steve Massey, Forest Lake principal, told me, “Students can letter athletics, fine arts, performing arts, and club participation such as student council and NHS. “

 Massey also described an interesting requirement for students who want a letter in athletics: “Many of our athletic teams and clubs require service as part of their membership or participation. The students’ service hours are often factored in the calculation for letter. For example, to earn a letter in football, athletes must complete 30 hours of service during the season or the summer prior to the season.”

 Neil Fletcher, activities director at Blaine High School wrote,  “A vast array of extra-curricular activities have adopted lettering criteria for their programs. From various foreign language clubs, to robotics, to fine arts programs, to athletics, lettering criteria have been established. Any BHS extra-curricular activity may establish lettering criteria that is then approved by me. Students may also earn an academic letter based on academic achievements.

 Pierz Superintendent George Weber wrote that “each organization, including sports are to present a process to grant a letter to our Activities Director so we have some degree of consistency across all activities. ...There was a time where you did not receive the exact same style of letter or even could order the same style of letter jacket. ...Now they are all identical.”

 Responses from these about 15 other Minnesota high schools reflect wise decisions.  Honoring students for a variety of accomplishments sends a clear, important message about what the school values.
 
 Joe Nathan, a former public school teacher and administrator, directs the Center for School Change at Macalester College.  Reactions welcome, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
 

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