School, Of Hard Knocks

I was doing  some hardcore reminiscing of my youth today, and I've come to an alarming conclusion.  One of the worst things any adult can do to a child is plague them with a double standard.  I'm not only referring to your run-of-the-mill boy/girl double standard either. Even though growing up with brothers, I was victim to a few of those, on more than one occasion.
Authority Figure: "Be home by 8:30"
Angsty version of me: "But Pooshie ( MY LITTLE BROTHER) has til 9:30"
Authority Figure: "Well Pooshie is a boy and a well behaved one at that"
Angsty version of me: * mumbles something rude and depressing under my breath for fear of getting slapped*
In my brother's defense, he WAS punished less than I was AND we're only two years apart, which is not that serious when you're 20 and 22, but it's a world away when your 13 and 15. Still though, that's only part of the whole double standard spectrum. The other part of the double standard disaster that I was subjected to was: children who acted up in school vs children who had their act together, aka me. Now don't get me wrong, I know NOW that the children who acted up just needed some tender love and care. They were the ones who just needed to be pointed in the right direction, so they can be reassured that they are doing, ultimately what is best for them in the long run. Trust me. I understand. Now. As a child, and even the younger part of my adolescent years, I couldn't for the life of me fathom WHYYY?!? Let me elaborate, when "bad kids" did HALF a worksheet they got credit for "trying" but when good kids like me did the entire worksheet we only received credit if the answer was actually correct. It was so crappy too, because if the class was math the answer was usually wrong, no matter the effort. It was the same way in a lot of group work we were forced to do. I HATED group work. With the passion of a thousand suns. Once again, the good kids working hard, pulling all the weight just for the sloth-inclined to put their name on it when it's all done. Do the good kids get recognized AND PRAISED for their hard work? Rarely. Yet they feel the "troubled kids" need a parade. Balloons included. When I used to go home and complain about this to my parents, all they would say is, "why do you need a reward for doing what you're supposed to do?" I swear, I used to get so blinding mad I would have to go in my room and close the door. This double standard is BEYOND poisonous for the youth of today. Not only because it is unfair, but because it messes with the  self-esteem of the "good children" all the while condoning, coddling and stunting the potential progression of the "bad children." If you praise one group of kids and not another, or if you praise one group of kids differently from the other, one group is bound to feel like they are "not good enough." If you make excuses for and/or except behavior beneath the norm, while continuing to praise the completion of the bare minimum, then one group will never know real work ethic. In turn, making them ill-preped for the real world. Neither one of these situations it's healthy for the adolescent mind, as adults we must stop, analyze, and find a new healthy system to this learning thing. Before it's too late to do anything about it.