Each term we nominate one pupil from each of our classes as 'praising stars' - this means they have a 'brick' (also refered to as a bit of green paper) that goes up on the wall saying how great they are. Inevitably it ends up with the same ten pupils getting the award from all their subject teachers so no one else gets a look in.

We have to give reasons for our nominations, which all go along the lines of, 'pleasant', 'hard-working', 'good attitude' [insert meaningless platitude here], so whilst I enjoy writing them and would like to think that the pupils enjoy receiving them my view on them is a little guarded.

What would make it more interesting would be if we gave truthful reasons, such as the reason for nominating the girl I chose from year seven was that the rest piss me off, or nominating the girl from year nine because even though her friends are all pains in the neck she's actually quite nice, or the boy from year eight because its a token gesture to make sure not all my nominations were girls. Wouldn't it be nice to be honest for once?