Joan Moser
As educators, we are wired to look for the successes. We watch, measure, and celebrate our students’ successes, big and small. Small academic achievements, positive behavioral changes, and social triumphs bring us pride, joy, and fulfillment. When our students don’t succeed, it causes sadness, worry, and of course pressure.
A fascinating article by Burkins and Yaris called "Wishing You a Great Failure" recently caught my eye. I was drawn in as I read about the son of one of the authors who studied for an exam only to find it was so difficult that he gave up one-third of the way through. I literally ached for the student and parent until I read of the action and learning that resulted from the struggle.
The article went on to quote from a commencement speech given by J.K. Rowling: “Some failure in life is inevitable.” Reading this brought to mind one of my dad’s frequent sayings: “Without valleys in life, the hills wouldn’t be as high.” Looking back at life, I can recall more of my own valleys than I care to admit. However, keeping in mind Dad’s words as well as reading those of Rowling's helps me keep in mind that some failure in life is inevitable, and perhaps even important.
As summer begins, we are often in a state of reflection. It can be easy to spend our time perseverating on what our students were not successful with this past year, berating ourselves or, heaven forbid, our students, for failures big and small.
After reading the article by Burkins and Yaris, I have a different feeling about the failure. Their quote “Pause and nod to failure, for without it great success would not be possible” joins the indelible mark of my father’s words. What can I learn from my students' lack of success, or failures? What can I do differently next year to better support students? What can I learn from their failures that can help me be a better teacher?
Thank you to these three authors and my dad for helping us realize that even though failures are inevitable, how we learn from them is a prize.
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