Deferred Success?

What the hell were the Brits thinking

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4697461.stm
from JoeUser Forums

I thought of putting this under humor, but it is true!  Some teachers in England want to replace the term 'fail' with 'deferred success'!

It appears telling a student they failed is damaging to their ego!  Never mind, that life is full of fails for all people!  Hell, I did not like getting Fs on my report card or tests either!  But it made me try harder to make sure it did not happen again!

but in this brave new world, where we cannot damage their tender little egos, some teachers want to change it!

But, Education Secretary Ruth Kelly at least is injecting some sanity into the debate by stating they will stick with fail for now, as when they get older, they will only find success or failure in real life.  She will probably be vilified for her sanity!

So what is a failure now?  A Permanently deferred success?

Maybe the teachers who suggested this change were victims of 'happy slapping'! (That is Bullying for normal people).

2,779 views 25 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top

Education Secretary Ruth Kelly told the Today programme on BBC Radio Four: "For that particular proposal, I think I might give them nought out of 10.

Kind of surprising to see such clarity and sanity with bureaucrats!

Offworld Trading Company
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top

We are essentially a clear and sane people

At least those in charge are showing it.  The unkempt rabble seem to be another matter.

Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
so if they fail to they get to attend a defered graduation, attend the defered prom?
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top

so if they fail to they get to attend a defered graduation, attend the defered prom?

Get a job for Deferred compensation?

Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
This whole thing is just more crap. It's like saying that you shouldn't mark their papers with red ink when they do it wrong. It denotes a "negative" connotation. Well no "shit". When you make mistakes, you should get graded on it just as in life.
Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
At least those in charge are showing it.


That's why they're in charge.
Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
here they call it 'Learning disabled'....... I prefer the term 'Educationally Challenged'
see yas later
Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top
Reply By: ManopeacePosted: Friday, July 22, 2005here they call it 'Learning disabled'....... I prefer the term 'Educationally Challenged'see yas later


I prefer the much more politically correct term

Dumb son-of a bitch.
Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top

This whole thing is just more crap. It's like saying that you shouldn't mark their papers with red ink when they do it wrong. It denotes a "negative" connotation. Well no "shit". When you make mistakes, you should get graded on it just as in life.

They really are kind of stupid trying to protect children against failure.  Real life is about success and failure.  Denying them that realization is real child abuse.

Reply #11 from JoeUser Forums Top

That's why they're in charge.

It is a lesson for the US that is for sure!

Reply #12 from JoeUser Forums Top

here they call it 'Learning disabled'....... I prefer the term 'Educationally Challenged'
see yas later

We Have both of them as well, but that has nothing to do with pass/fail.

Reply #13 from JoeUser Forums Top

I prefer the much more politically correct term

Dumb son-of a bitch.

Some are.  But others like my DS Nephew could be classified as learning disabled or educationally challenged. 

Reply #14 from JoeUser Forums Top
So called "educators" play word games with kids to shield them from disappointment and reality, then they freak out when kids demonstrate that they can't deal with disappointment or reality. Hmmmmm
Reply #15 from JoeUser Forums Top
P.S. On second thought, exchange the word from "so-called educators" to "so called adults".
Reply #16 from JoeUser Forums Top

So called "educators" play word games with kids to shield them from disappointment and reality, then they freak out when kids demonstrate that they can't deal with disappointment or reality. Hmmmmm

Some do.  It seems the ones that are more 'educated' are the ones that dont seem to understand that children must be taught in real world situations, not just reading, writing and arithmetic.

Reply #17 from JoeUser Forums Top

P.S. On second thought, exchange the word from "so-called educators" to "so called adults".

Change noted and agreed with!  I dont think Dr. Spock was an educator.

Reply #18 from JoeUser Forums Top
So who exactly are 'some teachers', 'the Brits', the unkempt rabble', 'so called "educators"' etc. (as referred to by various contributors here) responsible for this outrage? If you actually read the article, they appear to consist of a solitary retired teacher who is submitting the motion to the Professional Asociation of Teachers for debate. Wesley Paxton, a member of the association's council, is supporting the motion, but I can find no reference to anyone else - and specifically, not even one working teacher - who is backing it. Hardly the wave of teacher lunacy Dr. Guy would have us believe in, but hey - why let the truth interfere with a good story?
Reply #19 from JoeUser Forums Top

Hardly the wave of teacher lunacy Dr. Guy would have us believe in, but hey - why let the truth interfere with a good story?

If you inferred a wave of teacher lunacy, then that was your error,  I showed the source and my opinion.  I do believe it is legal to do that.

Reply #20 from JoeUser Forums Top
'I showed the source and my opinion. I do believe it is legal to do that.'
Absolutely! However, you did say 'some teachers'. A single, solitary, working teacher in support of the motion would have been nice. According to your link, even the proposer openly admits she 'deliberately made the motion provocative to spark a good debate'. I find it difficult therefore not to view your 'What the hell were the Brits thinking?' tagline as sensationalist.
Reply #21 from JoeUser Forums Top
Furry, that is why I changed it from "so called educators" to "so called adults". I didn't figure it was only "educators" who were entertaining such idiocy. Besides, there are few problems in any education system that I would put solely in the lap of "educators".
Reply #22 from JoeUser Forums Top
The lengths what some people do to protect kids is both good and bad. I'm all for protecting kids in certain situations that clearly calls for it. But to shield kids from failure is very wrong. After all don't all people learn from failures.

I remember back in high school there was a teacher who would hand back tests to all of his students as they came into class. Every one would get their test except the kids who failed. After everybody sat down he would call out the ones who failed one at a time. For example he would say,"Joe Schmo 42%! Come up and get your test!" Maybe he was a tad extreme but I never failed a test in his class in 4 years.

BTW .. Isn't it funny how the language has change. The only time I used the phrase "deferred success" in school was when I talked about my record courting the ladies. And the only time I used the phrase "happy slapping" in school was after failing with the ladies going back to my room and.. um.. er.. well you get the picture.
Reply #23 from JoeUser Forums Top

I find it difficult therefore not to view your 'What the hell were the Brits thinking?' tagline as sensationalist.

Perhaps, but it got you to respond.  Man drinks beer is not news. Cow drinks beer is. Even if it was only one

Reply #24 from JoeUser Forums Top

Besides, there are few problems in any education system that I would put solely in the lap of "educators".

If you classify the adminstrators as educators, then I would disagree.  As I have learned, they take burned out teachers and make them administrators.

Reply #25 from JoeUser Forums Top

I remember back in high school there was a teacher who would hand back tests to all of his students as they came into class. Every one would get their test except the kids who failed. After everybody sat down he would call out the ones who failed one at a time. For example he would say,"Joe Schmo 42%! Come up and get your test!" Maybe he was a tad extreme but I never failed a test in his class in 4 years.

I know exactly what you mean.  I was in a regular Geometry class (there was no advanced one) and a handful of us use to cut up in the back because we were bored while the teacher tried to explain it to the dummies.  So one day, he told us we were going to take the test right then and there.  Only one of us passed it.  Usually, he would allow anyone who wanted to, to take a make up test, but because we all failed, he would not allow any of the class to! (at least he was fair in that respect).

I got 107 on the final. Dont need 2 lessons to teach me to sit down and shut up!