Following up on my comment on "https://naomicfisher.substack.com/p/they-just-dont-care", I couldn't agree more with this. Actually, I don't think anyone was telling us back then that 'O'-levels and 'A'-levels (as they were called then) were the most important things we would ever do, and as it happens I did do quite well. Not that doing well helped in the least: I spent the next few decades unlearning the damage and finding out what *was* and *is* most important to me. And it sure as hell ain't no GCSEs and the like.
Yes yes yes! Such an important topic and 100% a great "hack". I was just having a conversation with my 14 year old at the weekend about how there are many different ways to become successful in life... and when I say 'successful', I don't mean rich.. I mean to succeed in making enough money to have a comfortable life and hopefully by doing a job that you actually enjoy. We discussed how whilst GCSE's are important, they are not be all and end all. The positives of getting any qualifications are that it simply opens more doors and perhaps offers more opportunity. We must value our children's efforts and passions (whatever they may be) and allow for time and growth in these areas, rather than making them feel our approval is dependant on GCSE grades ❤️
Much lower down the school ladder but I tell my Year 6 SATs students at the start of the year that the exams don’t matter at all for them - it’s all about proving that I’m doing my job. It doesn’t seem to have demotivated them to do well in the slightest. They’ve got too much personal pride to just float through without trying and seem happy to do the work to prove I’m doing mine.
Although it’s lower down the school ladder, it’s worth remembering that it’s the first ever exam season for these little learners. It could so easily be a huge pressure on their shoulders but it just doesn’t matter at all.
I’d like to see other grades treated this way. All the way up to degree level, I’ve known people to fall well below their goals and still do brilliantly at life. It’s not the be-all and it shouldn’t be an opportunity to stress people out with unnecessary pressure, just a chance to show what their made of through one narrow lens.
Students are not test scores or data points. Learning is messy and assessments often to not capture the nuance of learning. Students are humans and humans are fallible and, as such, deserve second, third, fourth chances. Tests are a necessary part of schooling, but are not the most important thing. Do your best and leave the test knowing that you tried your hardest. If you didn't perform as well as you'd like, roll up your sleeves, and try again.
I love this! My daughter attends a Steiner-Waldorf school where exam success is kept in perspective and not deemed the be-all and end-all and where every outcome is celebrated. But I can see that, even in this community, some parents and students have become increasingly anxious about getting the grades to get into the 'right' university, and the school are having to work hard to hold fast to their values and not succumb to external pressures just to survive. It's such a shame. We need to let our children know that just their being in the world is enough, that they don't have to justify their existence and, as you say Dr Fisher, that we will help them find their place and purpose.
I hope parents can understand that. There's always hope. We all have "high value" that no one should take of us. I wish someone could tell me this when I was a teenager.
Following up on my comment on "https://naomicfisher.substack.com/p/they-just-dont-care", I couldn't agree more with this. Actually, I don't think anyone was telling us back then that 'O'-levels and 'A'-levels (as they were called then) were the most important things we would ever do, and as it happens I did do quite well. Not that doing well helped in the least: I spent the next few decades unlearning the damage and finding out what *was* and *is* most important to me. And it sure as hell ain't no GCSEs and the like.
Yes yes yes! Such an important topic and 100% a great "hack". I was just having a conversation with my 14 year old at the weekend about how there are many different ways to become successful in life... and when I say 'successful', I don't mean rich.. I mean to succeed in making enough money to have a comfortable life and hopefully by doing a job that you actually enjoy. We discussed how whilst GCSE's are important, they are not be all and end all. The positives of getting any qualifications are that it simply opens more doors and perhaps offers more opportunity. We must value our children's efforts and passions (whatever they may be) and allow for time and growth in these areas, rather than making them feel our approval is dependant on GCSE grades ❤️
Much lower down the school ladder but I tell my Year 6 SATs students at the start of the year that the exams don’t matter at all for them - it’s all about proving that I’m doing my job. It doesn’t seem to have demotivated them to do well in the slightest. They’ve got too much personal pride to just float through without trying and seem happy to do the work to prove I’m doing mine.
Although it’s lower down the school ladder, it’s worth remembering that it’s the first ever exam season for these little learners. It could so easily be a huge pressure on their shoulders but it just doesn’t matter at all.
I’d like to see other grades treated this way. All the way up to degree level, I’ve known people to fall well below their goals and still do brilliantly at life. It’s not the be-all and it shouldn’t be an opportunity to stress people out with unnecessary pressure, just a chance to show what their made of through one narrow lens.
Students are not test scores or data points. Learning is messy and assessments often to not capture the nuance of learning. Students are humans and humans are fallible and, as such, deserve second, third, fourth chances. Tests are a necessary part of schooling, but are not the most important thing. Do your best and leave the test knowing that you tried your hardest. If you didn't perform as well as you'd like, roll up your sleeves, and try again.
I love this! My daughter attends a Steiner-Waldorf school where exam success is kept in perspective and not deemed the be-all and end-all and where every outcome is celebrated. But I can see that, even in this community, some parents and students have become increasingly anxious about getting the grades to get into the 'right' university, and the school are having to work hard to hold fast to their values and not succumb to external pressures just to survive. It's such a shame. We need to let our children know that just their being in the world is enough, that they don't have to justify their existence and, as you say Dr Fisher, that we will help them find their place and purpose.
I hope parents can understand that. There's always hope. We all have "high value" that no one should take of us. I wish someone could tell me this when I was a teenager.
Yes! Thanks for this.