Failure is success

Lesley Ramos

Professor C. Alexander

November 3, 2014

Prompt #2

Failure is success

If a student is not willing to learn, maybe failing them should be an option? In the article “In Praise of the F Word” by Mary Sherry, says that the requirements for a high school student to graduate should be overlooked. Especially because students that may not be ready to be in the “real world” are being passed without fulfilling the proper academic requirements. Who later will be questions if they have actually received a high school diploma..when the have. The F word can have many acronyms but in this case F stands for Failure. Sherry says that flunking may actually be an effective tactic for those who have earned that. The student should receive a wake up call and failing can help straighten ones priorities.

Students as much as teachers should be aware that failure exists and that some students that don't meet the requirements for a class should “flunk” the class. Mary Sherry explains that the teachers have the power to determine if the students passes or fails the class. Some of these problems can be avoided such as, if teachers does fail the students that lacks the ability to work proficiently. The individuals will them be able to start fresh, retake the class, review lessons that were difficult and actuactually learn something they couldn’t the first time. Eventually the student won't be able to pretend to catch up. Sometimes failing can be a good thing and students should realize that in the end it will only benefit them. Every one can learn from mistakes and by failing one can straighten up and take the second chance more seriously. Receiving the proper education where he/she fully understands the lesson because now students are only aiming to pass the class

In my opinion, this generation does not try to dedicate themselves by learning something but just by passing. In a movie I saw called , “The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete” the story started of with Mister the protagonist receiving a failing grade in English. Everyone was excited it was the last day of school. But Mister found himself crying in the bathroom stall. He tried to convince his teacher to pass him but in the end the teacher felt like maybe repeating 8th grade would be best. He would be able to get the attention that he wasn't able to get the year before and in the end he came back to school eager to learn. I hope to become a teacher as well once I finish college. Reading this article has reminded me that some students will fail. But it will definitely be up to me if they do and receive the proper attention that every student should require to have.

In conclusion I feel that the parents of the students should be more aware of their children's academics in school. Besides from learning hours in school, a students ability to work proficiently also comes from home. Parents should help their children straighten their priorities and that receiving a good education is important. Failure is sometimes necessary, for it can help the student in positive ways and in the end, learn something. Education is the key to success but it is also a powerful weapon that can change the world.