In Mary Sherry’s short story “In Praise of the F Word” Mary discusses that today’s education is cheating our children and future employers by passing children before they are ready to leave our education system. Mary is a teacher of an adult literacy program, who before would blame divorce, drugs and other problems for children not doing well in school. Mary learned by her experience with her son that one of the most effective ways to motivate a young student is by allowing the student to fail. Because teachers would pass students so easily, Mary believes students do not feel motivated to do the best that they could. Mary believes if “Flunking” was made a normal thing the fear of failure would stop students from cheating themselves and focusing more on their education. I believe that many students including myself, can benefit from Mary’s theory that failure should be a tool used by teachers to motivate students.
The first thing in this article that stood out to me was when Mary told the readers about her son. Mary was told that her son was not doing well in class due to his social behavior and that he was not motivating himself. This was leading her son at the risk of failure. Instead of over reacting as most parents would, Mary understood that failure was the right option, and then informed her son that he would fail if he doesn’t begin to try harder. When I was a child I wish someone like Mary or his teacher would have pushed me to push myself. I feel most children go throughout school without needing to push themselves for instance, while I was growing up I went through much of high school doing little to no homework in many of my classes, but was still able to graduate. I feel when I was in high school I did not understan...
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... F Word” delivers a whole new look on how students are being educated and gives a signal opinion on what should be done to help students learn better. I feel Mary carries a lot of knowledge from experience from teaching an adult course and having children going through school. This article inspired me to not look at failure in such a negative way. This article also made me feel that the passing averages of high school courses should be raised significantly to ensure we are not cheating our children and they have sufficient knowledge to Carrie them through life. I believe that many students including myself can benefit from Mary’s theory that failure should be a tool used by teachers to motivate students. If I was held back rather than passed off like many other students today I could have completed college and been already into a steady carrier achieving my goals.
Everyone strives to be the greatest, especially teenagers in school, failing can be upsetting when it comes to failing a class or grade. Failure in school can have a huge impact on a student's future. When students aim for a goal it's either accurate or precise depending on their mindset.
Marfan syndrome is a Single Gene Mutation and the gene that is mutated is FBN 1 (Fibrillin 1).The gene is located on chromosome 15 and the disorder’s mode of inheritance is autosomal dominant. This means that females and males are equally affected and that only one gene, “abnormal” gene is needed from either parent to be inherited in. Fibrillin 1 basically affects the elasticity of connective tissue. The gene makes many fibrillin proteins and these fibrillin proteins then join together to form a long, and string like object called microfibrils.
Lola demonstrated the disparities of our school system, as she is from an impoverished neighborhood with a school that hindered the progression of her education. Lisa demonstrated how community influences individuals and impoverished communities often cause young members to perpetuate their parents socioeconomically situation. However, some influences, such as church communities, can have strong positive impacts on their lives. Both girls demonstrated the importance of guidance and advocate in one’s life. Lola through her troubles in the school system, and Lisa through receiving guidance through the church. Both girls have been greatly influenced by their parent’s socioeconomic status and restricted from their full potential, causing them to fall into only slightly better situations than their parents. They are prime examples of the cycle of issues in our society, and the reason that we need to make a
While the mother felt she was cultured she never fully understood what she was reading and learning, and could only name the classics. This difference between mother and daughter is what created a gap between the two. While the daughter had the knowledge to self-educate herself, her mother would never meet these standards no matter how hard she persevered. There was a generational gap between mother and daughter created by the change in social and cultural norms. For the daughter’s generation it wasn’t unheard of for a woman to continue her education and strive for social advancement through knowledge. For the mother’s generation social mobility was almost impossible even if one worked every day of her life, and children did what they were told to do by their parents. This wedge created a series of rebellious years by the daughter, leading her to ask permission to study in
‘I am going to fail’ was the very first thought that crept into my mind on that very first day of class. Before I stepped into the classroom on the first day, I felt pretty good about my writing. I had done previously well in English, and didn’t think this class would be much of a challenge. This all changed on the first day of school, when my professor talked about the level of reading and writing expected for this class. I remember thinking ‘I don’t read, why couldn’t I have been born someone who likes to read?!’ Since this moment on the very first day of class, I have grown immensely through hard work. In this essay, I will explain what I have learned over the course of this class about myself, and about writing.
...o think for themselves. He believes that students will become more active and informed citizens if they are brought up to think for themselves (155). Gatto’s proposed solutions can be found successfully applied in Mike Rose’s essay. In his essay he describes the mediocre education he received while on the vocational track. Mike’s future was looking rather grim until he came under the instruction of Jack MacFarland. This man was a wise and enthusiastic teacher who challenged students academically. He encouraged and inspired students to read, to be proactive in their classes, and to think for themselves. His classes were engaging and the students were interested in his teachings (165-167). The fact that the same solutions that Gatto proposed in his essay was successful applied elsewhere proves that teaching practices need and can to change for the better.
In present times, the education system makes it easier for students to graduate with a high school diploma. The policy is to allow students a chance to not be left behind. However, there are many problems with that policy. Students may find it helpful to them while looking at a short term aspect, but long term effects could take place quicker than they believe. "In Praise of the F Word" is an essay written by Mary Sherry, in order to inform students, parents, and teachers on the issues with the education system. Sherry is a teacher that works with adult learners that have both received and not received their diplomas. She listens to a lot of students talk about their unpleasant experiences in school. The students would often mention choices
He seems to force what he says, rather than having a natural tone, causing the reader of the article to be left with a feeling of discontent. Although he only focuses on the negatives that those of the past have done, his argument is direct. No matter what generation you are from, it seems one always suspects the other of either ignorance or reckless abandon. It is easy for someone of the younger generation to point fingers at those who raised them, while taking no responsibility to take control of their lives. He does leave the reader with more awareness of a problem students face upon leaving school. This article is a persuasive piece due to the usage of Brooks principle message and literary
Students are motivated by many different things, for example Carly is motivated by chips. I remember when I was younger and took flute lessons, my teacher would give me candy if I practiced in between classes and improved. It also takes some students longer than others to learn things. It took Carly until she was 10 to really express herself. Even once she started typing she had to learn how to spell the words she wanted to write, she also had to learn to form sentences from those words. Some students might take longer than others to learn, as a future teacher we must be patient with the students and find the best way for them to learn the material. Another part of the book I found upsetting is when the general education teacher said she could not teach Carly anymore. She gave up on her without trying much to help Carly. As a future teacher, we must try to help all our students, even if they have
Sherry suspects that teachers blame the environment that they live in for their failing grades. She believes that its wrong because, “Passing students who have not mastered the work cheated them and the employers who expect them to have basic skills” (Sherry).
However, such accusations such as laziness and entitlement, although common, have been prevalent amongst those of college age as proven in “A’s for Everyone.” Shepard had investigated the cause behind this and had put the blame on grade inflation in the years prior to entering college, the pressure to get superb grades due to high tuition costs, and most importantly the belief that “effort” constitutes a grade bonus. However, if one has entered the school system in America, one could see the relative ease in which one could improve their grades through inordinate amounts of extra credit. Multiple students have heard and even seen fellow students ask their parents to even come in for meetings of which equate to blaming their child’s poor grades on the teacher and harassing said teacher to allow their child, soon to be a hardworking, productive citizen of society, to get the “grade they
She explains how her son was just pushed through school. “Our youngest, a world-class charmer, did litter to develop his intellectual talent but always got by” (559). He got through school by being a good kid, he was quiet and didn’t get in trouble. This was how he made it to his senior year until Mrs. Stifter’s English class. Her son sat in the back of the room talking to his friends; and when Mary told her to just move him “believing the embarrassment would get him to settle down” (559) Mrs. Stifter just told her “I don’t move seniors I flunk them” (559). This opened Mary’s eyes that her son would have to actually apply himself to pass. He wouldn’t be handed a passing grade. After the meeting with her son teacher, she told her son if you don’t try you will fail, making him actually apply himself. This made Mary understand that Failure is a form of positive teaching tool. Only because her son had to work for it and, now he actually came out of high school with a form of
How to Flunk out of College, by Dr. Cari B. Cannon is a self help book that provides insight to contribute to College student's success. Throughout the book, Dr. Cannon highlights shortcomings that almost all College students experience at some point. Three major topics that I struggle with are: Assuming reading and remembering are the same thing, practicing perfectionism, and forget the learning and only focus on the grade. I believe that by tackling my shortcomings head on it will result in my continued success as a student.
Even with the large evidential rise in academic dishonesty, cheating, and plagiarism, there is still hope to flip this statistic. Students who are surrounded by the right influences, and motivated by teacher...
It is important that education is properly enforced and easily accessed by all people. Poor teaching is implemented in the classroom today, such as boring lectures consisting of taking notes and regurgitating information. Because of this, people lack the motivation necessary to take advantage of their academic opportunities. In his essay “I Just Wanna Be Average,” Mike Rose writes about how during the majority of his academic career “[he] did what [he] had to do to get by, and [he] did it with half a mind” (154). Not only had Mike Rose done this, but other students follow in the same footsteps as if they are blind to how valuable education is and how it can empower a person. The type of an educator you are taught by can differentiate whether you will “do what you have to do to get by” or actually engage yourself while in the classroom. Mike Rose makes it obvious that school was not fascinating to him, but when he is introduced to a new teacher, Jack MacFarland he states that “[he] worked very hard, for MacFarland had hooked [him]; he tapped [his] old interest in reading and creating stories” (160). Professors like Jack MacFarland are what leave impacts on students and help them realize the importance of academics. Rose even states “MacFarland gave him a way to feel special by using his mind” (160). When educators can make students feel the way that MacFarland made Rose feel they can ascertain a great amount of