I read an interesting article, "In Praise of Tough Teachers", on education in this past weekend's Wall Street Journal heralding the education many of us over the age of 40 received. An education that consisted of strict discipline, little praise, and hard work. The author uses her own experience with her school orchestra conductor who would stop the entire group to scream at a musician out of tune. He held endless rehearsals and corrected hand and arm positions by poking the offending appendages with a pencil eraser. This sounds harsh by todays standards, doesn't it? Yet when he died he was remembered as a beloved teacher whose discipline and work ethic led to the success of so many of his students. The author does not advocate corporal punishment in any form or fashion in her writing, but applauds the education standards of years ago when hard work was expected, failure was an option, rote learning was the norm, praise was withheld and the student who put forth the most effort was
the student rewarded. The phrase, "you can do better" was frequently heard in the classroom many years ago.
Joanne Lippman writes an insightful editorial of how our education system of entitlement is failing our students, while giving valid reasons for returning to an earlier, possibly a less gentle, but seemingly more successful philosophy. I strongly believe it is our education system which dictates a successful and prosperous future. When we fail our children by not setting high expectations, we are limiting our future resources. If you are concerned with where we are going, I encourage you to read this article. I suspect Ms. Lippman may be on to something.
the student rewarded. The phrase, "you can do better" was frequently heard in the classroom many years ago.
Joanne Lippman writes an insightful editorial of how our education system of entitlement is failing our students, while giving valid reasons for returning to an earlier, possibly a less gentle, but seemingly more successful philosophy. I strongly believe it is our education system which dictates a successful and prosperous future. When we fail our children by not setting high expectations, we are limiting our future resources. If you are concerned with where we are going, I encourage you to read this article. I suspect Ms. Lippman may be on to something.
I agree . . . have not read the article and will do so. I think we have become focused on praise and reward in excess and one has to expend very little effort to receive. I think the ethic of hard work, delving in, figuring it out, is a lost art.
ReplyDeleteI went to Catholic school. I was taught by the process of humiliation. There was very little praise, there was cruelty, but yes I learned. Much was expected and there was no room for criers. We were in classes of over 50 children with one teacher so there had to be order. I hated school but wanted to be a teacher, a kinder, more encouraging teacher because deep down inside I will always bare the scars of my education.
ReplyDeleteArleen, My first thought is how did anyone learn with 50 students in the classroom? Oh my! I don't believe Ms. Lippman advocates public humiliation or physical punishment, but makes a good argument for allowing our students to fail and learn to pick themselves back up. I am so sad you had such a bad experience as a student.
DeleteArleen, I forgot....thank you so much for sharing your experiences and comment. Bonnie
DeleteI want to qualify my comment a little. I did grow up to be a teacher, and taught early childhood education for nine years. It was because of some of the wonderful teachers I had who encouraged me to do my best and go beyond my expectations of myself. Then there was Sr. Ramunda who called us all boobs. Of course, this is when boobs had a different meaning.
DeleteLike Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor, I went to school in the Bronx, and we not only survived, we both were able to take what was good with us. She might have done a little better though.
I'm reading Sonya Sotomayor's "My Beloved World". She credits her schooling (Bronx catholic school) with no-nonsense nuns the key to her success in later life. When I was in school, rewards were the knowledge gained. No certificates. No student of the week. I don't remember any student being disrespectful to a teacher. I don't remember any teacher having to teach a student how to behave. Food for thought today.
ReplyDeleteBest,
Bonnie
Bonnie, Thank you so much for sharing Justice Sotomayor's experience. My favorite teachers were the ones who demanded the most. Thank you for your comment. Bonnie
DeleteAll of my favorite teachers - many, many years later - were the hard ones. The best was the 8th grade English teacher who gave a quiz (that counted) the first week.
ReplyDeleteComplete the following: A word that names a person, place or thing is a _____
If you wrote in "noun" and failed to add the period at the end, which completed the sentence ... you failed.
All of us failed. Every single one. Did we learn a life lesson? Well, clearly I did! Hoorah for teachers who pushed us to the limit.
Webb, Your English teacher reminds me of my seventh history teacher. Each day we had an oral quiz. Each student was given a question....you made an A or an F. It didn't take most of us to long to realize when she assigned a reading assignment we needed to read it. These quizzes absolutely affected our grade. She was also my English teacher, and I still have a special place in my heart for her. Thank you for joining in on the conversation. Bonnie
DeleteI have nothing good to say about the public school situation here. Students have to share books, sometimes 1 book to 5 kids, many times my son's teacher in high school didn't even show up for class, he received a B on a paper he never wrote, the teacher's don't know the parents, there is no accountability or incentive to succeed. It's very sad. I would love to see the classroom get back to one where there are expectations that the child will succeed and learn not just get through the 20 minutes they are there.
ReplyDeleteI don't think there's any harm in stricter classrooms....what they learn in school shapes the adults they become. I only wish my son had a teacher like you who cared enough to not let him walk out of the classroom day after day, one who cared if he learned anything at all.
I could go on and on but I'd rather stop and wish you a happy weekend to come. :)
Sarah, I believe the examples you shared are exactly the problems Ms. Lippman is saying we have created, by not expecting more from our children and allowing them to accept responsibility for their successes. Thank you for commenting. Bonnie
DeleteI don't really think that there has been a golden age of education; there was as much right and wrong in past treatments as there is today. I know that our daughters, who are both musical, would have abandoned their respective orchestras if they had been humiliated and poked! They had tutors who set high standards and were firm but also gave praise when merited.
ReplyDeleteMuch of my grumpy old woman opinion concentrates on over-indulgent parenting and the lack of respect for acquiring a sound education.
Rosemary, I believe you made the same point Ms. Lippman was making set high standards and praise when earned. Thank you so much for entering into this conversation. I love so many are offering up their opinions.
Deletei am so "out of the loop"!! i rasied my children with the help of teachers, my influence was their greatest!!
ReplyDeleteas they went off to college, i found there were a lot of over qualified young adults competing with them for the available spots. i see the young adults of today doing wonderful things......i try to focus on that. i always hear people saying "the kids of today" much like adults did with past generations. i always quiver when i hear any group being "lumped" together, as if that is possible.
i'm glad my kids grew up when they did. they did not have cell phones, they played outside and were deeply involved with sports and school. i was happy with the job their teachers did and they grew in to wonderful men.
i enjoyed this bonnie....i hope my response does not make it appear i didn't. as i sad, i am out of the loop!!
Debbie, I in no way took offense. I am so pleased this has stirred up a conversation. I don't think in this article there is a statement made about the students, but about the path our education system is taking. I always enjoy hearing from you Debbie. Thanks, Bonnie
DeleteHaving high (and appropriate) expectations for someone is a great way to encourage them.
ReplyDeleteI feel it can be just as bad, Bonnie, to come down heavily on growing learners, as it can be to over-praise, to over-congratulate. I know I learnt the most when it was recognised not that I was at fault but that I simply didn't get something. It can e worst of all when teachers are simply oblivious that you need any engagement at all.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree. But I do think we, in the US, have strayed from structure in the classroom. Young people are amazing when it is required of them, they are capable and most often step up and perform.
DeleteI in no way advocate physically punishing or humiliating a young person. I do believe when held accountable students perform.
I have to agree. Some of my best teachers were the ones that did not accept anything but what they felt I was capable of.
ReplyDeletePearl
Dear Bonnie - I do so agree. Kids who strive for excellence deserve to be recognized. My finest teachers were the ones that didn't let me slide...they graded appropriately and encouraged me to do my best and when I didn't they were quick to let me know. I am so grateful for the years of learning that taught me the importance of putting forth one's best efforts. To give undeserved praise for a poorly done job is highly unfair to the child. It keeps them from reaching their God-given potential. That is very sad to me.
ReplyDeleteI've just caught up with your post. The article should raise an interesting debate in a few staff rooms!!! Jx
ReplyDeleteJan, I hope so!
DeleteHi Bonnie,
ReplyDeleteI agree that we're raising a generation of children who expect constant praise and feel entitled. I hate that! But in terms of education, I think that people respond differently to praise or demands. I remember a teacher once telling my mom that I deserved a higher grade but she gave me a lower one because she knew I could do better and wanted to motivate me. I was furious--but guess what? I got that higher grade.
I also remember writing letters to my grandmother who I only saw about 1 or 2 times a year. She would correct the letters in red and mail them back! Can you believe that?!
Julie, I must ask....was your grandmother a teacher? I corresponded with one of my high school teachers while in college. She always corrected my letters and returned them to me. She made me very aware of my weaknesses. Although I have never been able to edit my own writing, I do think I learned from all the red marks.
DeleteI had at least one outstanding teacher, my children did too. What made them stand out? Their genuine interest in their students and a passion for their subject. What is sad is they were standouts and not the norm. In addition there are other important factors in successful learning such as being adequately housed, fed and nurtured. All things which need to be in place long before a child starts school.
ReplyDeleteBonnie,
ReplyDeleteI do not think there are too many that would disagree that perhaps the current system is lacking something. Everyone cannot be a winner unless they deserve it, kids actually need to preform and preform well to get ahead. Unfortunately there is such a sense of entitlement, many kids are coddled and never asked to preform much less do better.
I feel for teachers today, many are berated and belittled by students and parents alike when they dare to speak out against the precious kids.
I was very fortunate, I went to strict Catholic schools from K-Masters and I loved it. The structure the discipline and the education.
Thanks for sharing!