I recall a few years ago an educational story out of Australia about a heated debate concerning its schools' grading system. It appeared that a group of folks no longer wanted teachers to use the grading letter, 'F.' Too harsh many stated. The letter 'F' should be replaced by the letter 'H,' which would indicate, student 'HELD.' I suppose that some parents did not like the fact that their kid was given 'F' indicating the consequence of failing a subject. Mommies and daddies wanted junior to be 'held' in abeyance. This resting 'grade-pause' is kinda like purgatory; it ain't heaven but it ain't hell...it is a undisclosed and undefined 'holding' place. I suppose this undetermined 'place' still renders 'hope.'
These new-thinking child-crippling-philosophies also suggested that teachers should no longer use 'red' pens when marking on a student's paper. The color red is too 'aggressive' and offends the kid's self-worth when it appears on returned test papers or homework. The teachers were encouraged to use the softer and 'cooler' color 'blue' when marking on student papers.
It seems to me that folks keep coming up with more ways to delay young people from becoming aware of success and failure's relationship to relentless efforts, determination and preparation. The real world gives a rat's ass about individual feelings. Most factories pay the hourly wage predicated on punching the time-clock and producing under the watchful and critical eye(s) of the boss.
I thought my wife and I did our kids a favor reinforcing the reality that consequences are found at the end of all actions and choices; some good some bad...figure it out and the earlier the better.
Note: I must tend to some family matters; shall be posting in a few days.
No comments:
Post a Comment