Used book - Latest News from the Birds, Erik Orsenna

That evening, the president was presiding over an awards ceremony at H. High School.

By the fifth exceptionally good student, he yawned. As the grueling ceremony continued, the idea entered his brain and, apparently finding itself comfortable there, began to germinate. A simple idea, a scandalous idea.

Okay, we have to reward the very good students, but why are the ones I see tonight, going up on stage one by one, so incredibly boring?

[…] Why not honor other children, hidden talents, passionate individuals who explore relentlessly, who only tolerate freedom, who only tolerate the duties they set for themselves?