tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14184878.post6082412526133428650..comments2023-10-15T10:29:12.991+01:00Comments on Karyn's erratic learning journey: So what exactly constitutes failure, then?The upsychohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06345558899662051670noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14184878.post-80306167910477825892008-06-23T19:00:00.000+01:002008-06-23T19:00:00.000+01:00@harold Thanks for the link to Michelle's post. Do...@harold Thanks for the link to Michelle's post. Don't know how I missed that one. I would agree with you, except to say that part of the problem is the perceived need for a single perspective.<BR/><BR/>Surely helping a dyslexic kid learn to read well enough to be able to function in mainstream society is a greater achievement that seeing an already high-performing kid land a clutch of Bs?<BR/><BR/>Let's compare my son to a fictitious child of non-English speaking parents in inner London.<BR/><BR/>My son was originally predicted to achieve only one B (for music). All his other subjects were apparently just As waiting to happen. Ha! More recent predictions indicate that we'll be lucky to see him get the grades needed to secure his provisional place in 6th form!<BR/><BR/>Now take this fictitious kid whose parents don't speak terribly good English. They live in an area where knife crime is rife. He has to battle the prejudice against "these people who come in here and take our jobs". His parents rely on him to act as interpreter because their English is poor. They promised to learn quickly, but real life got in the way. They work long hours in menial jobs. He works, too, simply because he's more employable than his parents, and the bills have to be paid. When this kid brings home a fistful of Cs, I would consider that an achievement. <BR/><BR/>When mine does, I would call it failure.<BR/><BR/>It's all relative.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14184878.post-90095809828024877552008-06-23T15:54:00.000+01:002008-06-23T15:54:00.000+01:00I read your post just after reading Michele Martin...I read your post just after reading Michele Martin's post on the value of <A HREF="http://michelemartin.typepad.com/thebambooprojectblog//2008/06/mistakes-as-pro.html" REL="nofollow">mistakes as professional development</A>. Seems like a problem of perspective.Harold Jarchehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11462304722726586155noreply@blogger.com