Dangerous slogans for education and life

All three slogans encourage perceiving in one-dimensional, trite thoughts. For students to learn to think in that manner is diminishing to students’ interior growth, as well as diminishing to how students will perceive of reality, the world, and others. Education must foster more depth of understanding than these slogans allow. Teachers who, themselves, think in the surface manner indicated by these three slogans do not serve their students well when they encourage their students to perceive of reality with the shallowness indicated by these slogans. If a succinct axiom for living is desired to share with one’s students, I would suggest simply the aphorism, “Know thyself.” That challenge for the student will open the possibility for greater depth of exploration, through many avenues of thought. And, it will hold the interest of the student over time.

I recently finished reading a book entitled, “Dying To Be Me,” by Anita Moorjani. This book explores discovering who one is with authenticity, and through the depth of personal experiences which have been explored in creative and unorthodox ways. Some readers of this blog may want to check it out.

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Mediocrity takes on a new meaning when you interview a youngster for a job.

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I, personally, have not witnessed these “slogans” being perpetuated by the schools. The only “slogan” I have heard from several teachers is something along the lines of “In life, you have choices: choose wisely”.

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Another interesting concept that I just became aware of: Nobody(genius or dunce) in today’s school system(private or public) gets under a C grade, regardless. This is applicable up through college. Apparently the teachers don’t want to be confronted with irate parents, lawsuits, principals and in some situations school shooters. So unless the student just doesn’t show up for class it’s a C by default for everyone. I don’t know when this became the standard. I attended college in the early 90s and students actually got what they made with quite a few F, I and D grades but no more.

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Source: Dr. John Trotter and MACE

@Ben to underscore your point, a teacher was about to testify about the very thing you referenced. Widespread changing of grades in a DeKalb county school. If I recall correctly the pressure was coming from administration. The OIR officer, State Sen. Ronald Ramsey, illegally shut down the grievance hearing.

State Sen. Ronald Ramsey by the way, collects his full salary while spending a large chunk of the year away at the Legislature, collecting yet another salary. Is this legal? More to the point, is this ethical? If a teacher was in the General Assembly would DCSS allow the double dipping? Would the AJC stay silent?

Or does the fact that he’s a Democrat make him, or this story, “untouchable” by the AJC?

Insufferable? INDEED!

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Don’t back down… Tom Petty.
Beverly, did you want the award and not get it?

@Again Eddie Hall I must ask. My asking of Herb Garrett (and Maureen) bothers you enough to comment on it, but the fact that Herb Garrett, a voice of influence on education issues, names an educational charlatan Superintendent of the Year and does not rescind the award does not compel you to comment?

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What I’d like Eddie Hall is to see some accountability from the people who have a major influence on education in Georgia.

And you would not?

What I’d like to see, like reporters held the IOC accountable for Marion Jones, held MLB baseball accountable for the steroid scandal, held the NCAA accountable for Joe Paterno’s actions, is the lead education columnist for the AJC hold a major education official accountable so that they know they can’t “honor” known charlatans with complete and total immunity.

Care to explain Eddie Hall what specifically is wrong with that?

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I should also say that more than once have I worked with parents who cared tremendously and really put the responsibility on the backs of their kids. And the kids really came through.
No, I don’t join the “it’s all about parenting” crowd even though I do give credence to the importance of parenting. I’m more of a mind to believe “we’re all in this together,” and my spiritual beliefs urge me to see every child as “my” child. I know that such a belief is impossible in practical terms, but I try very hard to let it guide my choices.
I like what Mr. Maciuba says about “when to hold, when to fold.” That slogan works much better for me as both mother and teacher.

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While we may chide Ben for implying it’s a universal standard, let’s not kid ourselves: this is not an uncommon occurrence in Georgia schools especially in the gateway grades 5 (on the way to middle school, where they can mess up their CRCT scores) and 8 (on the way to high school, so they can stop messing up our CRCT scores)

Let’s be honest; this dynamic exists, if not outright flourishes in Georgia.

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Beverly, I know you have a long-lasting issue with former superintendents, but I respectfully ask you to try hard to stay to the issue and avoid ad hominem attacks.

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Ah, finally, you publish something that makes sense. I could add to that the idea that “you can change the world.” Or as our Dear Leader told the young people of the world listening to his Cairo speech, “You can remake the world.” “Yes, you can.” “Yes, you can.” Repeat and march. Join Americorps. Get a rake. A hammer. Go into your community. Be the change.

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If every child were equally capable and motivated, the words “differentiated instruction” would not exist. All the companies selling books, lessons, and seminars on how-to would go out of business! What a calamity it would be to expect kids to actually apply themselves to do well.

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Cindy, I agree that there are some of us who still try to retain the integrity of a grade.

But the vast majority of grades in Dekalb reinforce the “Victory in every class room” or “No excuses” slogans. I’ve worked in Dekalb under 5 superintendents, and it seems for the last ten years, there is more emphasis on requiring the teacher to provide documentation for the redundant parent contacts (translation: exhaust teacher or intimidate teacher) than actually help students succeed.

I wish the AJC would run some stories comparing the number of students earning As or Bs to the number of students passing the Georgia Writing Test or EOCT compared to SAT scores. There’s another falsehood that Dekalb and the state of Georgia promotes: “College-readiness.”

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I always think of the shoe shine man from one of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s speeches. I learned it when I was in school and now teach it to my students – “Be the best in whatever you are.” Kinda difficult to believe these days (for students and teachers ); but it works.

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The article brings up some vivid memories. I can remember a 10th grade student telling me he didn’t need to improve his literacy skills because he was going to play pro basketball where everything would be taken care of and he wouldn’t need to be able to read. The problem? He was about 5′2″, a bit plump, and couldn’t make the high school basketball team. Many times I heard teenage girls say they intended to be pediatricians. I’d say “How are you in math and science?” The answer was always a puzzled look and “I can’t stand those subjects; I’m terrible at them.” Okay….

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Ah, finally, you publish something that makes sense – Perhaps relevant writing is not a common thing. This is a good essay.

I’ve some cringes recalling asking high school students “what’re you going to be when you grow up?” and a full 50% of several classes doing the song and dance about pro sports, and sit there is front of you and make a hard shell and stick with it, all 45 pounds 5′5″ of them NFL super-star. It would be do more good to start yelling your head off at these students and say, “IS THAT ALL YOU THINK OF ME? TO MAKE SOME FAKE MALARKY?” It, too, is a con game, kids who are addicted to “smooth.” I mean… 50% of classes individually singing this song like they are victims of media programming and role-playing their part. Maybe the “What’re you going to do with your life” essay question is not appropriate. A better essay question would be “How do you fix a door that someone has kicked in.” Most of these kids would relate to that, either having been there or doing it a few years later themselves. New Essay Topic “How to build a strong door” “How to install a high-definition video surveillance system.” How to choose the right camera for a high-definition video surveillance system.”

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Good insight into Tupac Shakur. And right on about successful pop stars and rappers are raised middle class or above. The savvy urban kids know this and are into the “underground” scene with rough artists from the hood that are not promoted through Clear Channel radio stations and other coroporate monopoly. A lot of ‘hood music enthusiastics are keen about corporate “illuminati” entertainment management and seek their art elsewhere.

hmmm interesting observation Underground hip-hop doesn’t exist anymore, at least not like it used to. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what happened http://pigeonsandplanes.com/2012/06/the-30-best-underground-hip-hop-albums/

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It’s not school mottos that need to change. It is the attitude about SPORTS that needs to change in the public school systems.
The education system in Georgia and in other backwards states worship the “sport” of football, which is a multi-year training program for machismo, chauvinism, elitism, violence and obesity.
Idiot parents transfer their kids to a school to get the best chance to play on the football team and they neglect real academic education because the SCHOOL SYSTEM demands it.
We should NEVER have organized sports in schools. We should teach physical fitness through calisthenics, an understanding of calories, nutrients and real physical education. The BIGGEST threat in today’s American society is not a lack of food, it has been surpassed by obesity and poor people and black people are at the greatest risks.
The only sports allowed in public schools should be aerobic ones such as basketball and swimming, and make them all intramural. This would prevent the ridiculous hiring of football coaches as history teachers and save the school systems a lot of money. We don’t need stadiums and new auditoriums to house football and basketball. We need to build brick and mortar schools and get the kids out of those dangerous, fire-trap trailers.
I grew up with the attitude that I could grow up to become anything I wanted to be through HARD WORK and TALENT. Even at a young age I knew I could never be a singer because no one ever told me that I could sing well and I could figure it out for myself just listening to myself singing.
I also knew I was pretty but not extraordinarily so, meaning, fashion model was not in my future.
Even though I was a girl, I did think I could grow up to be President. There’s nothing wrong with that.
We don’t need to change our mottos that kids can grow up to be anything they want to be. We need to STOP worshipping football and other organized sports so that we can all focus on what will give kids a best chance in life: a good academic education AND a FIT and HEALTHY body. It is heartbeaking for me to see FAT little eight year old boys playing football. They need to be in the pool swimming, on the basketball courts running, or just playing tag in the back yard with their friends.

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Good grief The reason your phrase is particularly egregious is that elementary school aged children do not have the maturity or development, anywhere close, for making life-determining adult choices that are “up to them.” Which is a complete lie in context. Children are protected up until age of majority. You should ask them to remove the slogan based on that it is inappropriate for children. If they refuse to do so, go to the court house and file on them, or have your attorney write them a demand letter. You can have it removed and you should. You’ve provided a perfect real-life example of adults doing something self-serving that is directly against the well being of their charges, the school children. The adults put the slogan up because they are intimidated by their managers. Write the school a letter and tell them the slogan should be removed (you have to do everything in writing to get anything of this kind done). Anyway, if you need any support, I do not think you would have any trouble find child psychologists to support that the heavy “the choice is yours” is inappropriate for little kids whose minds are in a wholly different place – seeking nurture, as opposed to “making judgement.”

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“In fact, they have a charter school, the DeKalb Leadership Academy (an oxymoron for sure) housed in the west wing of New Birth church – a place chock full of DeKalb county ‘leaders’.”

I was not aware there was still a connection with Bishop Eddie Sandusky’s church.

Opps sorry; that should read Bishop Eddie Long. Not sure where the Sandusky reference came from.

Apologies.

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As we have seen from yesterday’s blog title, the term “education leader” can be dangerous and misleading, as it may convey a sense of ethics and integrity that is contradicted by the “leader’s” actions, be they an individual or an organization.

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@ Good Grief, My school says the same thing every morning. I don’t know if it’s a system wide saying, but the kids at my school laugh about it all the time. While the basic premise of it is true, hearing it all the time makes it lose its punch.
As for the three slogans, I’ve heard them repeated many times, but the students don’t care anymore. I’ve seen the 90lb kids wanting to be pros and the little black kids wanting to be rappers. So sad actually. Very few of them say they want to be teachers or engineers. Lots of them say they want to be lawyers or doctors because they heard that they can make a lot of money. Then they discover the reality that the amount of schooling is overwhelming. I know it’s like banging on an old drum, but the media bares some of the blame.

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@Mary Grabar, a little too much cynicism for an educator like yourself. It is possible, and I would argue worthwhile, to get young people (and old people for that matter) thinking about how they can make change happen, whether in their own lives or in the lives of others.

If life has taught me anything it’s that we all get in a groove and prefer to stay there. That’s just the way it is, explain it how you will. Knowing that, I encourage my students to examine the lives they lead–their relationships, their attitudes, their goals, and their dreams. Than I have them write about it.

Since you are an educator you know that some students couldn’t be bothered doing that, but then some students can’t be bothered doing anything that doesn’t involve their silly little cell phone. But some students embrace (I’ll bet you hate that word) it.

As a college professor, I came rather late to the idea that young people would need to be encouraged to do this. But they do. Many if not most of them will not do it on their own because the grooves of life are very comfortable. Young people should be regularly reminded that they can and do control a lot of things. Can they change the world? If they start by thinking about ways to change their own little world, who knows?

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I don’t see anything wrong with “Be a leader, not a follower.” I heard this from my parents growing up and I didn’t become a little anarchist. Everything doesn’t have to be taken to an extreme.

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This is a better transfer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Veag-ptUkXI The audio (sound) is a little quiet on the previous link. The Lives of Others

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Cindy? Cindy? Are you not able to offer an effective rebuttal, or explain why it is in error to want to hold our educational leaders to a high ethical standard?

Do not the educators who did things the right way deserve that validation every bit as much as those Olympians who competed against Marion Jones?

Maureen, has the AJC processed the T Shirt order?

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15.5 million returns on Google search term “reflective teacher.” Lots of diagrams. Apparently this beast was hatched from “Marzano.”

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If I can see it, then I can do it
If I just believe it, there’s nothing to it

[Chorus:]
I believe I can fly
I believe I can touch the sky
I think about it every night and day
Spread my wings and fly away
I believe I can soar
I see me running through that open door
I believe I can fly
I believe I can fly
I believe I can fly

by R Kelly

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@Private Citizen, you write “You should be teaching economics and physics, not spending money to direct people in vacant opinions about ‘getting people thinking.’”

I don’t understand your point, especially that about “vacant opinions.” And from an educator’s standpoint, “getting people thinking” is education.

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Well, we’ve made it to page 2 talking about vacuous slogans. Congratulations group, we really can blog on and on about nothing.

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RCB I think you’re getting point, seeing the paradigm.

redweather Thank you for reply. The point is that where content is taught, people are working with carbon nanotubes and real physics. Where behavior modification, “themes” and “values” is taught, pretty much what you are left with after a decade is a bunch of brainwashed zombies who know “hope” and “change” and little else. The result is pretty stark when it comes to production and wealth. Teaching values is manipulative and leads to a peasant society. The real zinger is when the managers are specialised in enforcing “values” and vacant of real content and truly incompetent at managing delivery of content, and in fact create an environment hostile to content delivery. This is very real. There are many education environments in Georgia where content delivery is punished and “hope and change” replacing teaching real knowledge and skills. I do not know if I can make it any clearer. I am making effort. If you want something more than a peasant society full of fakery, you may consider the utility of throwing official indoctrinations out of the door and to the curb, and attending to sequential building blocks of traditional knowledge in place of using daydreams to con easy targets. It’s the oldest confidence game around, to “sell” the mark lots of hope and promises and deliver little or nothing to them. Some say such “hope and change” training is supposed to stimulate confidence. The problem is that today real content delivery is often disregards or outright punished. We must consider the reality of what is actually occuring. Also, it is a lot cheaper to spin up some “values” training than to do real content delivery. The term “dereliction” is appropriate when using “values” in place of “content.” To try and answer your question clearly, there is a difference in “themes” and “values” and mastering content, hence the formal study of economics or physics. Maybe this will sink in in a little while, if this concept currently remains foreign to you. Telling children the sky is bright and blue is entirely different from having the machine to form lenses to correct their vision and headaches. Maybe we should call it “industrial knowledge” how to make things to make life better, instead of pardon me being a bunch of Georgia slobs waiting on the rest of the world to do our work for us. That you have a large “cadre” of managers running a con game seems to be a culture here.

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SEE That’s a difference between you and me. Children with headaches who live for years without eyeglasses, and intimidated teacher-workers are not “nothing” to me.

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redweather I’m going to buy you lunch today. Are you ready? Get your fork out? Here we go. Okay, here’s you lunch. http://www.bonappetit.com/ Now, call me in an hour and tell me how good you feel, renewed, and the strength you have from the excellent lunch I have bought you. No doubt you are now invigorated and ready to conquer the world, go unload a truck full of cinderblocks, or build an airport. Meanwhile, I get paid and you go hungry. But I made you feel good and you fell for it (so to speak).

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redweather people should be regularly reminded that they can and do control a lot of things

That’s a good point, but the only way I know to make it immediate / specific is that people have a choice in what they consumer, how they spend their money. Developing oneself for a meaningful career is far more complex, although some of the same reasoning can apply, i.e. to not be debt-slave through signing on to university slavery where the student leaves with a great portion of debt. I think there is some room-for-scholarship available to evaluate university programs as well. Many make promises that do not get fulfilled. In fact, there is a class-action lawsuit occurring from law grads who are suing their law schools about official misrepresentation of their career prospects after spending $100-200k(?) on their programs.

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“She’ll never amount to anything because she doesn’t understand math.” Funny, this quote came from my second grade teacher during a parent-teacher conference, and I over-heard she and my mother discussing my poor math skills. I have never never ever forgotten this horrible woman. Perhaps it was her teaching ability? I have a masters and post masters in science and am successful. What the heck do these teachers know? Nothing!

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Or how about this slogan: “Treat people the way you would want them to treat you.”

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or this: do onto others as they have done to you. but don’t give them a chance to do it again

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at the end of the day, self esteem comes from hard work and achievement, not meaningless phrases and condesending sloganmasters

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These…”motivational”…slogans have been around for eons. The educational leaders, of the 60s, used to piss me off with these trite expressions: “work hard. blah blah blah”. Let’s just realize that, in their zeal to motivate, many educators simply…don’t have it. Some of the most technical-worthy, subject matter experts were great at plying their trade…educating kids in the art and science of a high school education, but they were lousy at the motivation game. let’s face it (from my experience), motivation, in and of itself, comes from making the grade, whether it’s aceing that test or barely passing a tough nut course. I was equally ellated in barely passing a chem test as I was in maxing an English exam; by the same token, missing a few questions on that English test pissed me off more than missing a few on trig, chem, or physics…all spheroid busters.

Let’s talk, for a moment, about promoting the self esteem thing…THERE’S SIMPLY TOO DAMN MUCH OF IT. From my short exposure in the classroom, far too much time and energy was expended/wasted on issues of self esteem. If the educational philosophy was more-focused on subject mastery and not so much on those touchy feely things like “does little johnny feel good about himself today”, we would be liteyears ahead in preping kids for the mean ole world. If little johnny busted an exam; if little johnny simply ain’t a-gettin it…HE’S SUPPOSED TO FEEL BAD ABOUT HIMSELF; NO AMOUNT OF PSUEDO-MOTIVATIONAL SNAKE OIL IS GONNA ENABLE HIM TO BUST ANY LEARNING BARRIERS. Among a few other reasons, this penchant, within the educational camp, was a major reason for my deciding to leave education (a would-be second career) and return to “my world”.

Teachers, in employing these silly motivational tactics, you aren’t giving your kids enough credit. Be tough, (figuratively speaking) pop em on the six a few times…if they truly want it, they’ll get it; if they don’t/if they want to be losers, no amount of “motivation” will hack it. The education system has to be willing to “drop” a few”. The world will always need menial laborers. DON”T try to change that. The cream will ALWAYS rise.

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A year or so ago, I had a student in my 7th grade class whose goal in life was to be a professional football player. Unlike many who make that declaration, he had the size and (for his age) the skills to at least make a good run at it. What he couldn’t do well was read, or write, or do any kind of math, or even stay awake in the classroom. (Of course, he was allowed to play on our middle school’s football team … he *is* a good player!) The morning after a game, while he was still reaping the accolades of his classmates for his great playing, I asked him about his dreams for the NFL. He seemed confident, even cocky about it. Then I reminded him that he would have to be drafted out of college, as the NFL doesn’t have a minor-league system as such. His expression changed in a heartbeat. “College? I gotta go to college?” (That’s an exact quote, by the way.) I assured him that yes, all NFL players have at least some college experience, and while the best-of-the-best may opt for the NFL before exhausting all of their college eligibility, there were exactly zero players in the NFL who were drafted out of high school.

I wish I could say it caused in him a great awakening. It did bring about a minor increase in effort…for a while, anyway. I guess he still thinks he’ll be the LeBron James of football, drafted to the pros right out of high school.

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The “Make it a great day or not, the choice is yours” script is part of a character education program called Project Wisdom. Georgia mandates schools do character education, and Project Wisdom is a quick way and relatively inexpensive way to meet the requirement. Each day, there’s a little story or scenario that teaches a superficial lesson which simply concludes with the “make it a great day or not” line. It’s probably useless,but at least it doesn’t take a lot of time away from real academic instruction.

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In my room used to be two quotes
“it is not your aptitude but your attitude that determines your altitude in life”. Jessie Jackson
“You have a brain in your head and feet in your shoes. You can go any direction you choose”.
I did spend a good bit of time at the beginning of the year talking about attitude and I never “gave” a grade to a student they did not earn.

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We do “Project Wisdom” every day on the morning announcements, followed by the “Make it a great day or not,” spiel. Like most other things, the kids who listen are not the ones who need to hear it.

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“I did not retreat Beverly, I just went to work. I don’t question your sincerity or right for that matter to question the issue, but once a horse is dead, it’s dead.”

Fair enough; but the horse isn’t dead; did the IOC say “the horse is dead” and let Marion Jones keep her medals?

Did the sanctioning body of the Tour de France let Lance Armstrong keep his victories because “the horse is dead”?

Did Penn State let the Paterno statue stand in memorial because Joe is dead?

No, no, and no. Why? Because each of those institutions know that innocent people were wronged, and continuing to honor them is a slap in the face to those who were wronged.

In each case reporters saw the legitimacy of asking the question.

In this case, should an education organization be held to a lower standard that a sports organization? Should Maureen be held to a lower standard than a sports reporter?

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Want a slogan?
This is a APS T- shirt for Beverly Fraud

“My Child Is An Honor Student”
(Subject to an ongoing investigation)

It’s an honest T-Shirt!

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@Beverly Fraud–I had work.
My response had to do with staying on topic and with your attacks on Maureen and others–not your recurrent concerns over Beverly Hall. I really wish this blog could be a place for sincere discussion.
Also, it’s an either/or fallacy to assume that requests to stay on topic and to desist from attacks to the person mean a speaker or writer endorses the actions of people such as Paterno, Sandusky, Hall, or others.

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Beverly Fraud, my comments about ad hominem attacks do not relate to Beverly Hall at all. I am not talking about your comments about her. Are we clear on that?
You attack others regularly. You make sarcastic comments and direct them to specific individuals, rather than talking about issues.
I’m weary of you dragging Beverly Hall into every discussion. It is a diversion. Here, you got off on the idea of Hall having received an award, and you seem very troubled that there is not a continual storm of voices that the award be retracted—long, long after she’s gone.
Again, you seem to fall for the either/or fallacy in your response to me.

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“Again, you seem to fall for the either/or fallacy in your response to me.”

I don’t think I do, and here’s why. We have three choices here.

My postings bother you more than Herb Garrett’s lack of response on the Superintendent award.

My postings bother you less than Herb Garrett’s lack of response on the Superintendent award.

My postings bother you the same as Herb Garret’s lack of response on the Superintendent award.

Whether you are greatly bothered or not at all bothered, I don’t see, logically speaking, a fourth choice.

You have chosen to comment on my posts, and have expressed displeasure in them. While it doesn’t definitively prove, it does indicate that you are then more bothered with my postings than Herb Garrett’s actions.

As such I would not make an attack, but ask a question; what does it say about an educator who is more bothered by a poster on a blog, than (apparently) an education leader in this state who would make a conscious, deliberate choice to honor an educator “long after” (to borrow your term) who disgraced an entire education profession, and destroyed the careers of many dedicated educational professionals in the process?

How is that not a fair and legitimate question to ask?

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I’d add “Making every student successful.” We are exhorted to do this, but it comes at a price, and we all know what it is: There comes a point where we cannot modify, adapt, or accomodate the curriculum to make the student “appear” successful and still be true to the content.

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You folks make jokes about t-shirts, but in the age of computers and internet, it is quite doable to make such t-shirts real per order. Count me in and mine to be “Race to The Top Dog Biscuits” using a font / logo similar to Ritz brand crackers.

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back in the early 70’s i was one of the top athletes at a AA high school in georgia–my parents raised me to get an education first –and one year kept me out of spring football because i made a “C” in a class— they believed (and correctly so) that i went to school to get an education first and everything else was o.k. so long as i was getting my education. we need to get back to those values and if nothing else we need to have the schools start to impose them—i can hear screams of “discrimination” now –but it would be best for the children. they also need to understand that not everybody can be a doctor/professor/nurse/lawyer but there is also a great need for other vocations as well— i have never met a decent welder that was out of work. vocational skills are good to learn and children should be taught to consider those areas where they are most likely to meet with success in getting a job and having a good career. my son received a degree in political science and now wonders why he invested so much of his time and money in an education that he will never use. children/young adults need career counseling greatly so that they make wise choices in their education and beginning careers. children’s “interior growth”, etc is fine so long as they are pointed in the direction of a decent job to support themselves while they strive to increase/improve their “interior growth”. i’d rather see a successful welder that became a successful poet later in life than a successful poet who spent 20 years of his life on welfare. kids can “explore themselves”, “know thyself”, etc and take time to do so at their leisure as long as they are prepared to pay for their own gas and groceries while doing so. an education is a wonderful thing but so is a job that pays your bills.

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There’s a snippet about a study done by the author of “Mindset”, Carol Dweck, at this site:

http://blogs.wsj.com/informedreader/2007/02/13/the-praise-a-child-should-never-hear/

Masciuba’s essay is well written but this is by no means a new idea. Educator’s and coaches have been talking about this since this whole “self-esteem is important” movement began. We have a President who was obviously raised in that system. School Districts have made it nearly impossible to tell the truth in parent conferences or allow students to fail. It’s why we as a society are so willing to take money FROM successful people to give TO losers. We’ve created a society of whiners who are devastated when you inform them they have failed, but who are absolutely UNWILLING to put in the work it takes to succeed. That’s what we have come to.

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“We are all endowed with different genes, born in different environments, born in different socioeconomic strata, and reared in different emotional and psychological circumstances. The political statement that “all men are created equal” does not mean, under any circumstance, that men will remain that way.”

I completely agree with this statement. I never tell my kids that all people are created equal, because it’s just not true. Instead, I tell them that God made us all different from each other…. and that’s okay. I try to point out specific examples in their lives (friends/reletives etc) who are remarkably good at certain things while another friend has a different talent. I do engange in alot of inspirational quote “mumbo jumbo” and have several inspirational plaques in our home as they have helped me thru some tough spots in my own life. But I always, ALWAYS preface them with the importance of hard work, determination, natural talent, and making good choices.

I grew up the daughter of a coal miner in the Applachian belt and my parents, although amazing parents in many ways, did not believe the value of being “inspired”. I was pretty much raised, you put your nose to the girndstone whether you enjoy it or not, you work harder and work longer than anyone else, and keep your head down. So work hard was pretty much the only philosphy I grew up with… and it did end up benefiting me because when I did apply for my “dream job”, I was told that I was far above the competition with full time work experience, multiple internships, and a full course load.

For me, where the inspiration part came in is when someone that I respected, a professor, and my first boss told me flat out that I suck and would not make it in my field. I had a really hard time recovering from that because no one had ever told me those silly slogans… “when you get knocked down, get right back up”, or “never back down”, or to “believe in the beauty of your dreams”. I had to discover them on my own. So I will argue that inspiring children with quotes and mantras are very important. They just can’t be the only thing.

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Some sayings from my old Dutchy family. “You teacher may not know everything but she knows more than you do:. “Everybody knows something that you do not know”:. “Your job is to learn from everyone” “Do not tell a lie but remember that not every truth needs to be told”. ‘Waste not, want not” Thanks folks.

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