In my world, failure is not an option.
Within the educational realm, the currently hyped idea is "to allow yourself to fail." Proponents of this mindset tout the idea that failure as a professional is fantastic. By failing, teachers will be more successful. We will be better teachers, because we can show students shining examples of people who once failed, or who failed over and over again, but succeeded. Edison and his lightbulb, Graham Bell's telephone, and the oft repeated lore that Einstein was a failure at school before he was a recognized genius come to mind. By allowing ourselves to fail, according to this philosophy, we are bettering ourselves as educators.
I am here to take a stand. In my world, failure is not the option.
Stop telling me to fail because it's good for me and for my students. Why? Because many of my students ALREADY FAIL. They don't need to be taught this or to see teachers fail to know that they can succeed out of it. My students do not know who invented the light bulb, and know very little about Einstein. Why? Those geniuses are dead, white men, far removed from today's reality, and thus from the mind of my students.
If you want to be successful, FOCUS ON SUCCEEDING.
One of my favorite Ted talks is entitled, "Every child needs a champion" and was given by Rita Pierson. Pierson gave an example of a student who got 3/20 questions on a test correct. She wrote "+3" and a smily face on the paper. When the student asked why she wrote these things on a failing test, Pierson replied, "+3 says you aren't all bad. You are on the road." That is celebrating student success.
Look around your room. Celebrate the successes that are occurring, even with just a word. Leave the sarcasm at home, be upfront, honest and sincere. Students learn from the teachers they care about, and who care about them, regardless of the content. Look for the students who:
--did nearly nothing yesterday, and has a couple of items answered today.
--has been down/depressed all week, but is smiling today.
-- never turns in his/her homework but did so today.
--has been in ISS for 2 days for poor behavior, but who brought all of the work you assigned yesterday to class today.
Be tenaciously successful in your school.
Teaching is a profession of fluid success and fluid disappointment. Every, single day we lose and win. Don't be satisfied with losing. Is there a great lesson in failure? Of course. But until students get consistent, heaping helpings of supported success, they won't begin to win. Do not allow failure to be the norm. I am here to say, take back the championing of classrooms and schools. Stand up for yourself, your students, and your school.
Focus on winning.
