Teachers tell students to learn from their mistakes, ask for assistance when needed and don’t be concerned about getting something wrong.  “We Learn from our mistakes” is a common Educational theme.

According to the AEU in reference to publishing NAPLAN results – “…league tables are simplistic and misleading…”

In Australia the AFL is followed more religiously than God, unfortunately. 16 teams play each week for a position in the 16 rung ladder. Kids are encouraged to participate in Sport and logically students find themselves supporting a footy team positioned somewhere on that ladder.  Whether it’s a coach training a footy team or a teacher educating a class, what’s the difference?

The AEU, in a letter sent home with students states – “…League tables will force schools to compete and focus more on lifting the schools average score and less on individual learning…”

From what I understand, Students are not taught Individually as it is, they are taught collectively and graded individually.

In Australia the only students who recieve an Individual Education Program (IEP) are those on the high needs disability registar.

Individual students in a mainstream school are unfairly branded if they fail to understand a “collective curriculum”. Now the AEU fears schools will be unfairly branded as failing – where should the priority be?

I’m sure the Education Union in the majority of cases do put students in the priority position but in this instance I feel the AEU is protecting teachers from feeling failure.

Kids today are not given enough opportunity to “Learn to fail“. In fact kids are protected from failure.

Failure is a good thing. Its a sounding board for increased learning.

Winston Churchill was quoted as saying – However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results.

He also said – Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfils the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things.

Maybe thats why he also said…. Never Give up, Never Give up, Never, Ever, Ever Give up!