When the Teacher Fails
a short narrative poem15 total reviews
Comment from creator3
You have captured the dilemma perfectly. You should not feel guilty, but it is impossible not to see any failure as a reflection of your ability, or skill, or even your caring. Of course, passing a student who has not met the requirements or shown the requisite progress against your better judgment can always be seen as a failure in itself, since that is to encourage indolence or indifference. I could write a book about this. Actually, my book is nearly finished. But it is pure heresy and teachers typically become extremely defensive when they see what I write. Education is ineffable. It cannot be measured. Grades are an exercise in futility. Dan was probably thinking about something much more relevant to him (the girl across from him?, or the teacher?) , or he may have serious family issues that prevent him from thinking clearly, or at all. He may just not have any interest in or talent for academics. If you felt that you helped one student or 29, you could be considered a hero and that help probably had less to do with grades and more to do with your love and attention. Don't beat yourself up. But coercion is not good for kids and it defeats the purpose with education. The core curriculum is rotten to the core, btw. I hope you will take a look at the chapter I submitted entitled, "Democracy Undermined - Fatally". Please don't take my criticisms personally. We took a wrong turn over 150 years ago. You are just trying to give kids a running start. Keep up the good work and fight like hell for their rights. Get to know the next Dan a little better if you can without taking away from the other kids.
reply by the author on 02-Jul-2020
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You have captured the dilemma perfectly. You should not feel guilty, but it is impossible not to see any failure as a reflection of your ability, or skill, or even your caring. Of course, passing a student who has not met the requirements or shown the requisite progress against your better judgment can always be seen as a failure in itself, since that is to encourage indolence or indifference. I could write a book about this. Actually, my book is nearly finished. But it is pure heresy and teachers typically become extremely defensive when they see what I write. Education is ineffable. It cannot be measured. Grades are an exercise in futility. Dan was probably thinking about something much more relevant to him (the girl across from him?, or the teacher?) , or he may have serious family issues that prevent him from thinking clearly, or at all. He may just not have any interest in or talent for academics. If you felt that you helped one student or 29, you could be considered a hero and that help probably had less to do with grades and more to do with your love and attention. Don't beat yourself up. But coercion is not good for kids and it defeats the purpose with education. The core curriculum is rotten to the core, btw. I hope you will take a look at the chapter I submitted entitled, "Democracy Undermined - Fatally". Please don't take my criticisms personally. We took a wrong turn over 150 years ago. You are just trying to give kids a running start. Keep up the good work and fight like hell for their rights. Get to know the next Dan a little better if you can without taking away from the other kids.
Comment Written 02-Jul-2020
reply by the author on 02-Jul-2020
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Thank you very much, creator, for your wonderful review and concern. I especially enjoyed reading your comments and insights into education. You are definitely right about why Dan could have failed and indeed our education system has too many flaws to enumerate.
Comment from Becky Kern-Taylor
I gave you 5 stars because I feel your grief. I was or am a dance teacher and understand your confusion and worry, BUT. If you tried your best there can be no judgment on your efforts because some children are just not reachable. So many different circumstances, maybe some that you don't know about. If you have a passion for something and other people fail, it is not your fault. Shouldering that blame is not legitimate. Failure to try and reach someone is a different story. A teacher must be able to accept failure due to other sources. Don't knock yourself out.
reply by the author on 02-Jul-2020
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I gave you 5 stars because I feel your grief. I was or am a dance teacher and understand your confusion and worry, BUT. If you tried your best there can be no judgment on your efforts because some children are just not reachable. So many different circumstances, maybe some that you don't know about. If you have a passion for something and other people fail, it is not your fault. Shouldering that blame is not legitimate. Failure to try and reach someone is a different story. A teacher must be able to accept failure due to other sources. Don't knock yourself out.
Comment Written 02-Jul-2020
reply by the author on 02-Jul-2020
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Thank you so much, Becky,for sharing my poem and your insight into the problem. Your advice is similar to my mentor?s (see my notes) and very much appreciated.
Comment from Melodie Michelle
I understand where you are coming from however you could look at it this way ~ it isn't all about you, it's about that student that failed this year and instead of being riddled with thoughts of, " What did I do wrong to cause him to fail?" Maybe you should've taken a more active role and working with him more positively throughout the year, so he would've been more 'apt to pass!?
Failure doesn't mean to just give up, it means get up and try harder to get it the next time around. This is what you maybe should've taught the boy that failed this year;-)
It's just a thought;-)
I appreciate and thank you for sharing and may God bless you and your family;-)
reply by the author on 02-Jul-2020
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I understand where you are coming from however you could look at it this way ~ it isn't all about you, it's about that student that failed this year and instead of being riddled with thoughts of, " What did I do wrong to cause him to fail?" Maybe you should've taken a more active role and working with him more positively throughout the year, so he would've been more 'apt to pass!?
Failure doesn't mean to just give up, it means get up and try harder to get it the next time around. This is what you maybe should've taught the boy that failed this year;-)
It's just a thought;-)
I appreciate and thank you for sharing and may God bless you and your family;-)
Comment Written 02-Jul-2020
reply by the author on 02-Jul-2020
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Melodie, your points are well taken and I thank you for sharing my poem. Indeed, I did keep asking myself what I did to cause him to fail. I spent time with him in class and out. And I didn?t give up. Please read my Notes.
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Oh yes I tag your notes and please let me reiterate that I don't mean any of my review in am ugly way I have lived this before which is why I've felt the same failure before and that is how I recognize it in someone else. I was always wondering, " What did I do wrong" or "I should've known better ..." but when it finally came together in head I was like, "It's not about me, it's about him/her and it doesn't matter at this moment why they failed but what matters is thru need encouragement and someone to be there for emotional support. Once I took me out of the equation, my friend came around and turned her failure upside down;-)
Do you get what I'm trying to tell you sweetie?
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Yes, I get what you are say. I learned early on that learning is a TEAM effort. I think that is why I did excel (after retiring as a teacher) at tutoring.
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Please just consider what I'm trying to tell you my friend.
;-)
Comment from roof35
Your poem definitely says exactly what you were trying to get across. I know many teachers do feel that way when often they should not. Your poem is well written, and through your words I could see you standing at the door. Nicely done.
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reply by the author on 02-Jul-2020
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Your poem definitely says exactly what you were trying to get across. I know many teachers do feel that way when often they should not. Your poem is well written, and through your words I could see you standing at the door. Nicely done.
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Comment Written 02-Jul-2020
reply by the author on 02-Jul-2020
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Thank you so much for your kind words and understanding.
Comment from papa55mike
That's a tremendous burden to carry for an entire summer. Sometimes we have to forgive ourselves. What a wonderfully written poem. I wish I had a six. Best of luck with your writing!
Have a great day and God bless.
mike
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reply by the author on 02-Jul-2020
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That's a tremendous burden to carry for an entire summer. Sometimes we have to forgive ourselves. What a wonderfully written poem. I wish I had a six. Best of luck with your writing!
Have a great day and God bless.
mike
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Comment Written 02-Jul-2020
reply by the author on 02-Jul-2020
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Thank you very much, Mike, for your kind words and praise of my poem. Yes, that burden of guilt would last all summer long, but it did make me a better teacher as I would enter each new school year with great resolve to not fail again.
