bullying

[Reg the Fronkey Farmer]

I overheard a “water cooler” conversation today in a clients’ office.  It was between 2 mothers talking about the awards ceremony in their children’s school last night. It appears that both their sons won awards for “attendance at school”, “taking part in athletics” and “being polite and considerate”. In order not to upset any boy in their class, all of them got the same awards. Well done boys!!

[jakelafort]

couple of possibilities Simon…force with force,  culture of intolerance for bullying among peers who punish bullies in various ways including exclusion,  school administrations secretly drug the offending bullies

[Unseen]

Simon Paynton wrote:

@unseen – “aggressiveness beats assertiveness every time” – it depends what you mean by “beats”. Assertiveness gives a better long-term outcome than either submissiveness or aggression.

Simon, I know the difference between an opinion and a fact. I think I smell a contrary opinion.

[Unseen]

Reg the Fronkey Farmer wrote:

I overheard a “water cooler” conversation today in a clients’ office. It was between 2 mothers talking about the awards ceremony in their children’s school last night. It appears that both their sons won awards for “attendance at school”, “taking part in athletics” and “being polite and considerate”. In order not to upset any boy in their class, all of them got the same awards. Well done boys!!

What’s next? Awards for boys not being too masculine and for girls not being too feminine. This would align with the notion among many feminists that the only natural difference between the sexes is the physical body, behavior being accounted for by nefarious and repugnant and paternalistic social pressures.

• This reply was modified 7 years, 11 months ago by Unseen.

[Simon Paynton]

I think it’s worth awarding students for their own particular talent: for something they’re good at.  If awards have to be given to everyone, which is kind of dumb.

[Simon Paynton]

@unseen – “I think I smell a contrary opinion.”

– it’s an opinion.  What do you think of its validity?

[Unseen]

Strega: Kids aren’t taught to lose, any more. Everyone wins. Competitions do not have losers. Everyone gets a medal. This sort of philosophy denies the kids the lessons they need in life, where failure exists and coping with a failure defines your ability to exist in society.

• This reply was modified 7 years, 11 months ago by Unseen.
• This reply was modified 7 years, 11 months ago by Unseen.

[Reg the Fronkey Farmer]

 

I think it’s worth awarding students for their own particular talent: for something they’re good at.

That reminds me of an event in primary school (US Grade 6) when a boy was “caught” drawing during math class, a subject he was very poor at. I remember the teacher (a civilized man, compared to the Christian Brothers) staring at the picture for a minute. At that age, 8 or 9, we had the same teacher all for all subjects. He brought him to the back of the class and gave his own “art desk” with all the equipment he might need to draw. The teacher would still do math with him for a few minutes each day before he could start sketching.

That boy now commands good money for his pictures and is a lecturer in fine art in a European art school.

So rather than awarding students for their own particular talent I think it better that we encourage them by giving them the opportunities and they will eventually earn their own awards (or not).

[Simon Paynton]

That’s a great story.  What a cool teacher.

[Author]

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