OPINION:
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he National English Honor Society dismissed 20% of its members this year, compared to 6% last year. As NEHS Co-President, I issued the dismissals myself. NEHS, and organizations like it, are experiencing a serious decline in engagement amidst adaptations to a virtual setting, as members fail to complete activities and meet attendance requirements. At our school, most academic honor societies host students who earn GPAs over 3.5, obtain teacher recommendations, and demonstrate proficiency in the subjects the respective societies aim to promote. Their overarching goal is to foster scholarship and challenge students to participate in their community. However, these societies have lost sight of their mission and must begin prioritizing the true value of their work in order to regain it. As a result of COVID-19 related limitations, community service-based honor societies have begun to function exclusively online. General meetings in Meyer Hall have been replaced with Google Form attendance questions, and "volunteer opportunities" have been diluted to activities that resemble homework assignments. For example, the National History Honor Society often asks its members to research historical figures, while the Spanish Honor Society posts language practice worksheets. NEHS provides similar substitutes for in- person events, such as writing prompts and character analyses, that, admittedly, don't reflect our organization's goals. Still, the biggest difference between homework and honor society assignments was that failing to meet the expectations of an honor society is virtually inconsequential. The highest form of punishment was dismissal, and even that only occured after a member was inactive for two consecutive semesters. As a result, involvement was at an all-time low. Despite hosting 210 members, NEHS events held in the second semester have received an average of seven participants, and 40 members have yet to earn more than half of the mandatory service hours, according to attendance and hour count records. This comes after multiple honor societies have reduced the intensity of their requirements to accomodate for virtual setting limitations. The National Honor Society has cut their service hour requirement from 15 to 10 hours and the National Art Honor Society has changed theirs from 25 to five. Amanda Ferber, vocal senior and President of Tri-M and SHS, explained that "there is much less of an incentive to participate because the impact of these honor societies is very intangible." This is a reality that both members and officers are forced to grapple with and workaround. While societies must aim to give their work relevance, students should not use the virtual setting as an excuse for exerting minimal effort. This behavior directly opposes honor societies' founding principle of scholarship. It's essential to note what honor societies have done to spur community involvement virtually. As a substitute for their field trips to the Luciano Martinez Child Development Center, SHS has arranged for students to exchange letters with the children they used to mentor. NHS also directs students to COVID-19 friendly, in-person volunteer opportunities that directly contribute to the community, including clean-up projects and food distributions. Still, the biggest difference between homework and honor society assignments was that failing to meet the expectations of an honor society is virtually inconsequential. The highest form of nishment was dismissal, and even that only ured after a member was inactive for two ecutive semesters. ult, involvement was at an all-time pite hosting 210 members, NEHS d in the second semester have average of seven participants, and have yet to earn more than half ory service hours, according to hour count records. multiple honor ed the intensity of accomodate for ons. The National heir service hour 0 hours and the y has changed nd President at "there ticipate societies hat both apple must ts
THE FUTURE OF HONOR SOCIETIES
AS NEHS CO-PRESIDENT, I ISSUED THE DISMISSALS MYSELF.
20%
Of NEHS members were dismissed this semester
COMPARED TO JUST LAST YEAR.
6%
In a virtual setting, honor societies lose engagement and impact
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