Perhaps an important life lesson?
It’s a doggy-dog world out there kids. Maybe getting your feelings hurt in a somewhat artificial environment is good practice for real life. One California school district does not agree.

School board members and Principal Bill Black say that competition makes for an unhealthy educational environment.

"If they are not number one, it could get their feelings hurt if they are self-motivating and high-achieving students," Black said.

"Ideally the valedictorian program should recognize the most successful students or student, but at this point we're wondering if it's recognizing the most successful strategist," said Tom DeSantis, Hemet Unified School District board member.

I doubt if my mother was a great strategist, but things were different back in the forties.