Children not learning the lessons of failure

[RYjet911]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/article5733373.ece

Managed to find this article when searching for different Universities I was considering applying for. From what I can tell, students, specifically those of primary school, are generally being treated as though their answers are just, even if they are entirely incorrect, and teachers aren't regularly telling them the correct answer.

Do you think this is good practise or not? On the one hand, treating them with almost infinite respect and giving them compliments on their answers, no matter how stupid, is a great boost to their self esteem, but they won't be learning shit, and on the other hand, making the kids grow some balls and realise their answers are wrong at the possible cost of the child's motivation will at least have them learn something.

Where's the middleground? A quote from the black teacher in Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide when Ned gets a question wrong - "Nice try Ned, thanks for answering, but the correct answer is..." Is it really that hard to treat kids with respect, keep their motivation AND tell them their answer is wrong, instead of going "Very good, Jimmy! Now let's sit you down in the corner with a glass of milk and a cookie for just how great an answer you gave!"

(Jimmy answered 'oranges' to the question 'What is five times three?')

 

[Graustein]

On the one hand, treating them with almost infinite respect and giving them compliments on their answers, no matter how stupid, is a great boost to their self esteem

No, it's a big boost to their ego. If they are wrong, you should bloody well tell them.

The "possible cost" to the kid's motivation is nothing compared to the fact that if they are treated with infinite respect, they will start to think of themselves as infallible. It will raise a generation of assholes who don't know what "no" means.

 

[NewGeekPhilosopher]

Most kids in my year group don't care unless they get in trouble about their falling marks from the teacher phoning their parents. The apathy of the school set is mind boggling. Many just want to talk to their friends, not learn things.

 

[heartshooter]

kids need to be told they're wrong every so often. they need to learn that they don't know everything and only praise them when they have been exceptional.

it's why i wouldn't make a popular teacher. i would condemn wrong answers and give very little praise to correct ones. i'd also be very harsh with punishment e.g. amputating both arms for throwing accross the classroom or removing teeth for chewing gum during lessons.

 

[Beefcakes]

Yeah, people as high as year 9 no longer fail, or get an F, their work is 'unacceptable', just so they don't feel bad about their failure
Bunch on bullock if you ask me

 

[Enfid]

Middle ground is the best. No use destroying their confidence just for the heck of it.

Even in university, this idea applies. I'm about to teach some group of students in practical classes in pharmacology, and we (the demonstrators) are told to encourage them and give them confidence by telling them what things are they doing good, but correct them when necessary without being harsh about it. ("You idiot, how can you answer that? Did you even TOUCHED your textbook?" is not a good teaching behavior)

I like that approach you gave: "Nice try *name*, and thanks for answering, but the correct answer is......."

So....I guess the middle ground is: praise them when they did something right, even if it seems 'trivial' by the teacher's standard, and when they answer or did something wrong, don't be harsh in telling it's wrong. That way they learn, and their confidence is increased.

 

[rokudan]

Yeah, people as high as year 9 no longer fail, or get an F, their work is 'unacceptable', just so they don't feel bad about their failure
Bunch on bullock if you ask me

...and thus began the pussification of the world.

 

[rossatdi]

Mr Garrison: What is five times two?
[No response from the class]
Mr Garrison: Now come on children, don't be shy, just give it your best shot.
[Clive raises his hand]
Clive: Twelve.
Mr Garrison: Okay, lets try to get an answer from someone who's not a complete retard.

 

[Legion]

It's possible to criticise a child mistake without "humiliating" them as the writer of the article points out. If they make a mistake, correct them but do so with decency as you quoted: "Nice try Ned, thanks for answering, but the correct answer is..." is neither humiliating or condescending if said politely.

There has also been a reduced amount of competition in sporting events at schools. I am aware of some schools that give rewards to all who compete; no matter where they place so they do not feel left out or humiliated for being beaten. People should not feel bad because they lost, they should feel motivated to try harder next time, if they are rewarded for failure they will not learn this lesson. However, if they are humiliated for losing, by way of nasty comments etc. then they will also give up.

Although as mentioned before, it is possible to correct someone without it being the end of the world.

 

[Yoshimota]

Yeah, people as high as year 9 no longer fail, or get an F, their work is 'unacceptable', just so they don't feel bad about their failure
Bunch on bullock if you ask me

...and thus began the pussification of the world.

Exactly. If children don't get F's, or some kind of failure message, how are they supposed to learn that they suck?

They need to learn failure so they can cope with it later in life, because god knows they'll fail a lot, and if there not equip to cope, they'll get depressed, stay at home all the time, start playing video games, become really good, get in MLG, earn 200k a year, and live the rest of there life happy.....hmmm...maybe it's a good idea they don't learn failure........

But seriously, they need to learn some where, and what better place than where you learn everything else????

 

[Elurindel]

Children need to learn that they're getting the answers wrong, or they'll just put whatever, and good talent may be put to waste as they become stupdi, self-entitled idiots.
What's a little floccinaucinihilipilification amongst kids if it means that they learn that they're not infallible, and that they have to improve themselves to get anywhere?

 

[Sion_Barzahd]

My niece is 6 years old, and shes become so arrogant cause teachers seem only able to say "well done" that when i tried to correct her grammer or help her with spellings she goes beserk and rants about how the teacher said it was right.
I know its not just her either, a lot of kids from the same and higher age sets are like this.
It doesn't matter if telling them they're right boosts their self-esteem. Cause if they keep failing then finally get it right, wont that be a better feeling?

 

[P1p3s]

i call it HALO sydrome, you believe somehow you are the centre of the universe, that everything you are is valid and everything you think is ok, and thats tosh.

It's a recipe for a planet of self important missinformed 'the world owes me a favour' brats.

This isn't helping those kids, they are going to walk out into the real world and get their ass kicked by everything. Showing up to work 2 hours late coz you feel like it and "no i dont feel like paying my bills this month" type thinking is going to get you fired and evicted faster than you can say "unearned validation"

 

[L33tsauce_Marty]

Yeah, people as high as year 9 no longer fail, or get an F, their work is 'unacceptable', just so they don't feel bad about their failure
Bunch on bullock if you ask me

...and thus began the pussification of the world.

Exactly. If children don't get F's, or some kind of failure message, how are they supposed to learn that they suck?

They need to learn failure so they can cope with it later in life, because god knows they'll fail a lot, and if there not equip to cope, they'll get depressed, stay at home all the time, start playing video games, become really good, get in MLG, earn 200k a year, and live the rest of there life happy.....hmmm...maybe it's a good idea they don't learn failure........

And become egomaniac asshats?

 

[Siris]

Yeah, people as high as year 9 no longer fail, or get an F, their work is 'unacceptable', just so they don't feel bad about their failure
Bunch on bullock if you ask me

Not at my school, but that is beyond the point. We need to tell kids when they have failed, so they can learn from it.

 

[L.B. Jeffries]

They'll find out the truth soon enough, won't they?

 

[Beefcakes]

And become egomaniac asshats?

Yeah, pretty much, I guess...
Grim outlook for young gamers much?

 

[L33tsauce_Marty]

And become egomaniac asshats?

Yeah, pretty much, I guess...
Grim outlook for young gamers much?

Well considering the MLG targets XBL idiots that are in the 'kid' range I say so.

 

[Yoshimota]

Yeah, people as high as year 9 no longer fail, or get an F, their work is 'unacceptable', just so they don't feel bad about their failure
Bunch on bullock if you ask me

...and thus began the pussification of the world.

Exactly. If children don't get F's, or some kind of failure message, how are they supposed to learn that they suck?

They need to learn failure so they can cope with it later in life, because god knows they'll fail a lot, and if there not equip to cope, they'll get depressed, stay at home all the time, start playing video games, become really good, get in MLG, earn 200k a year, and live the rest of there life happy.....hmmm...maybe it's a good idea they don't learn failure........

And become egomaniac asshats?

Yeah basically....but it was a joke :S

 

[Xaozano]

When I was younger, my teacher said my grades sucked balls. Next quarter I got straight As.

Failure = Motivation