So theres been a ton of debate regarding the “new” way of schooling kids.
Some examples:
-Many schools have chosen to oust the red pen!! Red writing, they said, was “stressful.” Many teachers have been advised to grade with colors featuring more “pleasant-feeling tones” so that their instructional messages do not come across as derogatory or demeaning.
-A lot of schools now offer every child a trophy just for playing in a sports game. They don’t single out the winners…it might hurt the other kids feelings….
-Some schools have taken away the F because it can traumatize a child..
There’s an endless list of ridiculous things I could add….
I am horrified to see how these “new” kids will function in the real world…..
Will they cry when not chosen for a job? Or stand bewildered when they are fired for doing nothing? The real world is not easy. If you get used to failure from a young age it makes you resilient and able to handle the REAL struggles life will bring you later.
I choose to raise my kids the same way I was raised. When I was little my dad’s infamous catchphrase was “Second place is the first loser”. I LOOOVE that quote!! It’s so true! haha. We used to play games to the death. Monopoly games were finished….”You never give up until it’s done.” We would sit up for days on end to find out who conquered the world in Risk. Why would you play something if there is no winner? It defeats the purpose! Competition is healthy and it will be something you must learn to deal with in every aspect of your life whether you like it or not, whether it offends you or not!
I would never had been a good student in this new way of teaching. I would have been the kid to just show up. Why work if there’s no chance of failure? I was a kid, like most, who got pride out of finishing my work and getting good grades. The red marks only made me work harder and be more proud of myself when I accomplished a test without them. You learn what your good at by process of elimination. “Wow, I suck at that, on to the next thing.”
I’ve read that parents don’t want their children to feel like loser’s. But what if he is the loser? He then will be motivated to work his butt off so it doesn’t happen again! If he walks home with a trophy he will be content in his averageness and not strive for anything. And the kids who have worked their butts off SHOULD be rewarded…or why work at all.
Just my thoughts:) Maybe I’m missing a point…. Let me know what you think….
I agree totally. I think if you just keep lowering the standards so that no kid feels left out everyone is a loser. I think there has to be a place for raising self esteem, and kids who need extra help should get it so that they can achieve their greatest potential but so should the gifted kids and everyone else. Pretending everyone is equal is not realistic nor desirable. Everyone is unique with their own place in the world.
Claudette from Montreal
I agree completely!
You are right on sista! My son loves showing us his progress reports that have his percentage listed. Not pass/fail. 90% makes a kid shine. They don't do letter grades but knowing that percentage is the same thing.
I agree, we are raising a bunch or wusses that don't know what the word failure means. You have to know what failure feels like before you can know what success feels like. I would hate to have these kids as employees in the future.
I could not have said it any better than this Haylie..you are absolutely right! This should be posted in every school all across the nation. As it stands, everybody gets a trophy.
In my personal opinion we are creating a society of people who are co-dependent, lazy & not held accountable for any of our actions. Here is a good example: Back in the day when your teacher would want a meeting with your parents or the prinicipal called you knew you'd be in trouble. Parents believed what the teacher/prinipal said and there were consequences. Nowadays parents don't believe the teacher… "oh my little Jimmy would NEVER do anything like that" Really?
On sports teams the parents a constantly overstepping their boundaries and "coaching"(when they don't know ANYTING about whatever sport) from the sidelines and underminding the actual coach. These poor little kids don't know who to listen to.
Kids don't walk to school anymore either. You live across the street from the school yet your kid can't walk???? Gimme a break.
Then you have these "alternative" high schools for those kids who can't get up on time, don't show up to class, think the world is out to get them, who are basically just straight up lazy. I'm sorry but when you have to get out into the working world there isn't gonna be an "alternative" McDonald's, factory, resturant, etc who will accomodate you & your lack of motivation. Suck it up buttercup.
AGREED!! I feel the same way. I came from a very competitive family (healthy competitive). The point of it? Learning how to be good sports and congratulate the person who actually deserved it! While not settling for less, and being mediocre at anything we set out to accomplish. The saying within our whole family. "If you not first, your last!" LOL!
Ahhh, a breath of fresh air!
Common sense in the real world! The problem started…are you ready for my opinion?
The day women thought they didn't need men. We are seeing the feminezation (sp?)
of a nation.
So funny. That first anonymous commenter clearly heard everything I muttered under my breath at my son's last soccer game, HA! –connie
So true. We just watched the movie The Incredibiles last night, "If everyone is special, no one is".
That kind of thinking goes hand in hand with the latest birthday party trend of having the kid open his/her gifts AFTER the guests leave so the other kids don't feel bad that they didn't get presents. WHA?! Why not teach them it's FUN to give? We SHOULD feel happy for others! Everyone was born, everyone will have a birthday.
You deserve a trophy for this! (he,he,he)
Connie
P.S. LOVE your Dad's quote, LOVE it!
what a great quote from the incredibles:) Wow, wasn't sure if you guys would agree!! Glad there are others opposed to this "movement".
All I have to say is Amen, sister!!
I don't think I could have said it any better Haylie!
So agree with you! When those who do nothing are rewarded, those who worked hard in the beginning will give up. What will happen to the world when the hard workers are no longer motivated because everyone gets the same reward no matter how much they do?
YES! I totally agree with you. Let's spread the word about this. Otherwise we are going to have an emotionally-immature, arrogant, ok with being mediocre generation that doesn't know what it's like to TRULY succeed and win and be challenged.
Oy, Lord help us!
I totally agree with you! Why in the world award someone who barely did anything vs truly awarding the best/correct/hardest-working?? That teaches kids that it doesn't actually matter what they do or how much effort they put in or if something is some with excellence or mediocrity. Ugh. That's awful. When I have kids I definitely want them to understand and learn first had that there is a difference and it's HUGE. And that it's worth it to put in the time/effort to do something to the best of their abilities, etc.
Oy. Lord help us!
AMEN, sister!
I agree, completely. What is the motivation to try if your hard work isn't rewarded, or at least noted. Glad you spoke up on this topic!
I agree, completely. Why try when your hard work isn't rewarded?
You summed it up pretty well girl….as a mother I watched my child get chosen as a winner…given a trophy and a ribbon for a Fair project…she saw the other kids get the same ribbon and a smaller trophy for participation…she said sweetly does every one get to be the winner? And before I could answer she said they forgot to give you one mommy…