Since 2009, the benefits for university graduates who have received a gold medal for excellent study at the school have been abolished. The event caused a storm of indignation and a lot of public questions that have not subsided so far. Let's try to figure out why we need a gold medal at school, how to get it and what advantages does it give to a future student?
A gold medal for graduation is awarded to students whose final grades for the two graduation years were exceptionally excellent. Earning an average score of 5.0 is not as easy as it seems at first glance. To get the highest mark, the student needs to not only solve all the control and independent works as “excellent”, but also to complete homework and work hard additionally. Good relationships with teachers can also influence the outcome. For some time now, namely since the introduction of the Unified State Examination, the life of a simple schoolboy has been significantly complicated. In order to prepare well for the final certification, it is necessary to attend various electives and electives. Many students use the services of individual tutors, who train them to solve tests and give tips on writing essays and essays. With tutors, both weak students and those who claim medals are involved. Oddly enough, but the services of individual teachers use and olympiadniki, and excellent students. In our time, competition has increased significantly, so a gold medal at school is not a reason to relax and drop out of school. If threesomes and good scholars, with the help of tutors, study new material, cram theory, then excellent students need practice and experience in solving the Unified State Exam.
Despite the fact that for some time a gold medal in a school doesn’t mean anything when enrolling in a university, university rectors have the right to decide for themselves whether to take into account information about a student receiving a medal or not. It is possible that graduates who received a medal will be separately considered by the selection committee, but this does not give special entry rights. If earlier a gold medal at school guaranteed the facilitated task of entrance exams, preferential entry into a prestigious university, now such privileges have finally lost their force. Nevertheless, the benefits for the Olympiad are preserved. Winners and laureates of all-Russian and world competitions in the field of science and sports have the right to enter the university on special grounds. As it became known, in the future it is planned that the winners of regional and republican olympiads will have the opportunity to enter the university of their field on concessional basis.
Despite all the facts opposing its receipt, the school medal remains a special distinction that distinguishes a student with abilities, an intellectual, from an ordinary average graduate. The medal is pride for the parents of teachers and relatives of the future student. Also, medalists are invited to a special ball, where statesmen, education ministers and the elite of the city (republic) gather. At the ball, graduates are awarded silver and gold trophies, diplomas and gifts. According to the classical scheme, the celebration ends with a buffet reception in honor of the best graduates.
Surely each of us thought or even dreamed that it would be great to get a gold medal for successful graduation ... But, unfortunately, not many succeeded. Now imagine the responsibility that graduates took, whose names now appear on the lists of the best, whose photographs hang on the boards of honor. Their excellent knowledge in a particular area will be remembered for many years by teachers and the directorate within the walls of the school. Their surnames will often be on the lips of class teachers. The whole class spoke about these students, they were praised and scolded, they were admired and offended, but they stood it and, in spite of everything, got their well-deserved medal!