There is a new reality tv show from Australia starting soon called 'MasterChef Junior'. Like all the reality shows, there can only be one young winner. I'm not sure that I agree that kids should be subject to such things. But I do know one thing. That program would never work in NZ.
In NZ, you are taught from the get-go that everybody is a winner. Everybody gets recognition. What we used to call 'graduation' (that was only for your last year in school) is called 'prizegiving' because, you guessed it, everybody gets a prize (your grades and any accomplishments on a sheet of paper). Everybody gets to come up on the stage. Every year. From the lowest grades to the highest, each student gets at least one piece of paper. I don't know the criteria for not being on stage, but I'm pretty sure it doesn't happen very often.
In addition, you are taught that you don't have to do what you don't want to do. Seriously. Some kid flunked a test because he knew the material and did the first couple of questions but decided he didn't have to do the rest because it was repetitive. Never mind that doing all the problems of the test showed his ability to follow directions and complete a task. He just didn't feel like finishing it. I guess the teacher failed to mention that your grade was based on all the questions and not just the ones you answered.
It saddens me to think what the school system is doing to our children. I suppose many of the students here in NZ will be having a huge eye-opener the first time they get chewed out or fired for not doing what they are told. I've tried to tell the school authorities that they should be more realistic, but to no avail. I'm just glad that Otterboy has learned a lot about responsibility. I know he will fare much better than most in his class.
6 comments:
A lot of the United States is the same way in this day and age....it is the new generation...on our YMCA sports teams no one wins and no one loses...they don't even keep score anymore. When at bat if you strike at the ball three times, you aren't out..you walk to first base. If you hit the ball and someone tags you, you still aren't out, you just stand on first base until the next person gets there. Makes me furious. That is exactlly what is wrong with the kids of today. They cannot accept losing with dignity. Hell they cannot even accept winning. At the last nursing home where I worked none of the CNA's followed the rules and the DON told me that I need to learn how to deal with this new generation and not be so hard on them WHAT????? Scarey isn't it?
so sad, but too true...
I hate that this is going on in other countries.
These kids will have a rude awakening when they start working!
It's getting like that here in Australia. When school went back a few weeks ago, my Facebook newsfeed was bombarded by parents complaining that their child hadn't been put in a class with their friends or that they didn't like the teacher. They felt it was their right to complain to the school so that their little darlings can have everything they want. In my opinion: Tough!
At one of my previous workplaces, we had a work experience student who was 15. She was lazy, she complained, she left early without notifying the manager.... Yeah, the workplace will be a rude shock to them.
Great post! It is the same way here in the US in a lot of schools/communities. It seems like they are so worried that they might hurt someone's feelings, that everyone wins. What incentive is there for a child to try hard if he or she isn't going to be recognized for going 'above and beyond'?
Coming from your link on Best Posts of the Week. :)
again, same thing in our schools... and i worry for the world, but since i am 70 most of what will happen will happen after i am gone.
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