Failing as the path to success and self-knowledge
Failure Gauge
The saying goes “If you are not failing, you are not trying hard enough.” But, currently, in American society, we don’t tolerate high school failure or weakness.
Colleges prefer A-students. So, out of necessity and love, this generation of parents rescue. Our kids don’t get the chance to fail, bounce back and achieve. The tutor is a quick call away. But the teen shouldn’t take a tutor to college, though some do. Having four hours of tutoring per night for that tough course may yield an A but that is not success, it reveals difficulty or failure—identifying the cause is invaluable.
Colleges prefer A-students. So, out of necessity and love, this generation of parents rescue. Our kids don’t get the chance to fail, bounce back and achieve. The tutor is a quick call away. But the teen shouldn’t take a tutor to college, though some do. Having four hours of tutoring per night for that tough course may yield an A but that is not success, it reveals difficulty or failure—identifying the cause is invaluable.
Our current system doesn’t allow learning though failures. A low grade can mean the teen took the challenge, overcame daily failures with tough material ending with real mastery. But that rarely yields an A. The lower than perfect grade will be penalized by college admissions or, at least, damage chances for merit-based financial aid.
Let’s learn from the ‘failures,’ difficulty or low performance when planning for the future. We are looking at failures here before successes. Failing or low performance reveals volumes. (Check all that apply) Make copies because everyone has more than one subject they are not best at---if they are perfect at everything, as the saying goes, then they are not challenging themselves enough. Here is a worksheet for categorizing 'failures' and struggles. REMEMBER: If a class is really too hard, then take the easier class, master the material and progress to that harder class. This isn't a race! (See The Race article) Take classes that are appropriate or a year-ahead in difficulty. Don't think the student will get ahead by skipping Algebra 1 and going to Algebra 2, or Calculus, etc (and yes, this happens. And some of these students get A's--from the tutor doing the work.)
Let’s learn from the ‘failures,’ difficulty or low performance when planning for the future. We are looking at failures here before successes. Failing or low performance reveals volumes. (Check all that apply) Make copies because everyone has more than one subject they are not best at---if they are perfect at everything, as the saying goes, then they are not challenging themselves enough. Here is a worksheet for categorizing 'failures' and struggles. REMEMBER: If a class is really too hard, then take the easier class, master the material and progress to that harder class. This isn't a race! (See The Race article) Take classes that are appropriate or a year-ahead in difficulty. Don't think the student will get ahead by skipping Algebra 1 and going to Algebra 2, or Calculus, etc (and yes, this happens. And some of these students get A's--from the tutor doing the work.)
Feature Articles
.png?dl=1 "21st Century Skills")
Pay/Class
How do we process that a high school grad can earn over $100K starting salary and the college grad $28K; a nurse can make more than a doctor doing the same work. Top careers can be reached by professional degrees and certificates and four-year & advanced degrees.
Not just Blue Collar/White Collar
Traditional class divisions are blurring: grey collar (college grads who take jobs that don't need a 4 yr degree) green (environment & renewable energy) new collar (tech), no collar (artistic), gold (intellectual labor), red (government), brown (military), etc
.png?dl=1)
At the Bachelors Level,education now similar
For grad school, one tries for the best school for one's speciality. At the Bachelors level, with the internet, more professors, etc, colleges meet a higher standard than the past. Chem 201 is virtually the same anywhere, best at the college that matches the student's learning style