Teaching group to consider banning word "fail"

[jroche5998]

Re: Teaching group to consider banning word "fail"

The problem with society today is we are coddling the children too much. Life is absolutely not fair. And you will fail many times thoughout your life. But that is what makes you grow and makes you stronger to face the next challenge life presents to you. What is gonna happen to these kids that were "deferred success"? Defer, means to postpone until later, when will that success that was deferred come? After they've been given a fake diploma that they don't deserve? What's gonna happen when they get a job and they don't deliver on what is required? They will get fired. And if they've been "deferred successed" all their life they will have no idea how to deal with this version of "deferred success". Give them the "F" and then they will realize that anything worth having is worth working for. I'm constantly amazed by kids that are shocked that they have to do chores to earn an allowance, or study to get good grades. The entitlements that these kids today think that they deserve without putting forth any effort amazes me. I worry where our world is heading.

[Piasabird]

Re: Teaching group to consider banning word "fail"

I couldn't agree with Iapetus and Jim more. Thanks for two really good posts, guys!

[MotherOfGizmo]

Re: Teaching group to consider banning word "fail"

I couldn't agree with Iapetus and Jim more. Thanks for two really good posts, guys!

Count me in too!

[Kisseslikepearls]

Re: Teaching group to consider banning word "fail"

Wow, do I have to disagree with the majority AGAIN.
You label a child as a failure and they will believe it, they will live it and they will be it. ......
Inequities and it will make your stomach turn.
What if the failure is due to mild retardation, or dyslexia or even coming from a non-English speaking home.
What if the failure is due to immaturity.
Are you really willing to brand this kids with a big scarlet letter F.

I'll agree with you to a point. My stepmom started "hinting" about my weight when I was 14. I'm maybe 2in taller and about 35# heavier than I was then. I still sometimes wonder if I'm too heavy...but this is also from 4 years of at least twice-weekly comments about how maybe I shouldn't eat my mashed potatoes or have that extra roll or do I really want to go to the movies on a date jeans and a nice shirt.

It seems like you are assuming children are told they are a failure everyday, and I have yet to have a teacher that cruel. I have yet to be in a classroom where the teacher told even one student at one time they were a failure. I'll admit, I had some pretty decent teachers, and that its entirely possible that there are teachers this cruel.

"Failing" is a reference to grades, though. From the time I started school my Dad's mantra was "your grades reflect your effort". If a student doesn't turn in homework, of course she failed, she showed absolutly no effort. If he failed a test, he once again showed no effort, he didn't study, he didn't find someone to help, he didn't listen in class, something.

I don't know when you were last in public school or if you have kids in school now, but schools do recognize the mildly and not so mildly mentally handicapped, the kids who have learning disabilities from dyslexia to ADHD (which I think most cases need a good spanking and that'd cure it right up, but I do recognize that it exists and is a medical "illness") and the kids who do not speak english or where english isn't spoken in the home.

The kids with disabilities were in a different classroom, with more teachers and had more individual attention. Kids with ADHD were given till the end of the day or the week to finish assignments. And, at least in Polk County, Fl, a child is not allowed to be held back because he/she does not speak English, even though they were in special classes to teach them English. They also were given more time in classes where they were with the rest of us, like in math. I don't know about you, but this sounds pretty lenient to me.

The only thing "failing" means is that there was a lack of effort.

[Peytonn]

Re: Teaching group to consider banning word "fail"

You label a child as a failure and they will believe it, they will live it and they will be it.

I'm not saying you label the CHILD as a failure... but if there is an assignment.... say... learn your abc's... and you don't DO that.... then what is your grade???? pass or fail???

[acey]

Re: Teaching group to consider banning word "fail"

I've learned more from my failures than I ever have from my successes.