Spring is here - sort of, and the end of school for the year is right around the corner, or so it feels.  My opinions today come back to whether or not students in grades 1 to 8 should be failed.  While making the decision should not be taken lightly, I am a believer in failing students.  Why, because at this age it is a good time to learn how to fail, and how to recover from a failure. The older we get the harder it is to teach the old dog  a new trick.
I have students coming into my center in grade 9 terrified, because they do not know how to deal with the concept that if they do not do their work and try hard, they will fail the grade and have to repeat it. They do not know how to deal with it.  It is our fault as the adults of today for them not knowing how to deal with failure.  In our attempt to protect them from the pain we have only set them up for greater pain.  We have also let them down because we have not taught them how to fail and how to recover from it.  Those students who are most successful in school are those who are involved in a discipline activity after school - such as sports, dance etc.  Why, because they have not only learned about discipline and teamwork, they have also learned about how to recover from failure.  The little hockey players first lessons consists of the coaches pushing them down onto the ice, and then telling them how to get up. 
When we learn that failing is ok, we learn to have faith in ourselves, to try again and how to be successful.  Please understand that when you are choosing to have your child repeat a grade, that decision has to be taken very carefully and all aspects of the child's life must be considered.  I strongly support repeating a grade when the student is really not grasping the concepts taught that year.
I would love to hear your opinion on this issue.

Until next time.