Grades, Not Feelings, Should Matter Most (...or should it??)

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Grades, Not Feelings, Should Matter Most

21/01/2009 06:36

The following letter, sent to the Gazette, was copied to St. Albert's

Place:

Dear Editor:

It was with interest that I read commentary by McLeod, Special

to the Gazette on January 17th. The article is titled, " Grades, not

feelings, should matter most " . I would like to input, yet an

additional point of view:

While I do understand the general idea McLeod is making in the

column, I believe an important issue is being neglected:

Individualism. Perhaps, it is in honour of this philosophy that some

of the schools in Saskatoon, referred to, who are adopting a policy

where " no one fails " , may be recognizing that there are learning

differences to consider.

Do you realize that " Person of the Century " , Albert Einstein, for

one, likely would have 'failed' in a traditional school setting?

Einstein is believed to have had an ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder)

called Aspergers Syndrome. Individuals with AS often do not 'test

well'. Should Einstein have been 'held back'? The notion is

inconceivable given his brilliance, yet people with an ASD are often

mind-blind in social areas and specific abilities. Some are described

as " Swiss Cheese-like " in development where learning deficits are

intermingled with strong topic interests and intelligence. We must

learn to accommodate and celebrate the differences that make us

unique; which lead to success when we refrain from 'black and white'

thinking.

On this note, I would like to end with a poem whose author is

unknown:

IT MATTERS TO THIS ONE

As I walked along the seashore, this young boy greeted me. He was

tossing stranded starfish back to the deep blue sea. I said, " Tell me

why you bother, why you waste your time this way. There's a million

stranded starfish, does it matter anyway? "

And he said, " It matters to this one. It deserves a chance to grow.

It matters to this one, I can't save them all I know. But it matters

to this one, I'll return it to the sea. It matters to this one, and

it matters to me. "

I walked into the classroom, The teacher greeted me. She was helping

ny study, he was struggling I could see. I said, " Tell me why you

bother, why waste your time this way. ny's only one of millions,

does it matter anyway? "

And she said, " It matters to this one, he deserves a chance to grow.

It matters to this one, I can't save them all I know. But it matters

to this one, I'll help him be what he can be. It matters to this one,

and it matters to me. "

Sincerely,

Velvet

Incidentally, Journalist, Don Sinclair, is a gem! He never fails to

amaze me in his willingness to present of all points of view! Sincere

thanks! - v.

[Guest guest]

How awesome!!!

Thanks for this!!

Robin

Normal is just a cycle on a washing machine!!

From: tdhssp <johnvel@...>Subject: ( ) Grades, Not Feelings, Should Matter Most (...or should it??) Date: Friday, January 30, 2009, 3:58 AM

http://www.mybirdie .ca/files/ 18-january- 2009.php Grades, Not Feelings, Should Matter Most 21/01/2009 06:36 The following letter, sent to the Gazette, was copied to St. Albert's Place: Dear Editor: It was with interest that I read commentary by McLeod, Special to the Gazette on January 17th. The article is titled, "Grades, not feelings, should matter most". I would like to input, yet an additional point of view: While I do understand the general idea McLeod is making in the column, I believe an important issue is being neglected: Individualism. Perhaps, it is in honour of this philosophy that some of the schools in Saskatoon, referred to, who are adopting a policy where "no one fails", may be recognizing that there are learning differences to consider. Do you realize

that "Person of the Century", Albert Einstein, for one, likely would have 'failed' in a traditional school setting? Einstein is believed to have had an ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) called Aspergers Syndrome. Individuals with AS often do not 'test well'. Should Einstein have been 'held back'? The notion is inconceivable given his brilliance, yet people with an ASD are often mind-blind in social areas and specific abilities. Some are described as "Swiss Cheese-like" in development where learning deficits are intermingled with strong topic interests and intelligence. We must learn to accommodate and celebrate the differences that make us unique; which lead to success when we refrain from 'black and white' thinking. On this note, I would like to end with a poem whose author is unknown: IT MATTERS TO THIS ONE As I walked along the seashore, this young boy greeted me. He was tossing

stranded starfish back to the deep blue sea. I said, "Tell me why you bother, why you waste your time this way. There's a million stranded starfish, does it matter anyway?" And he said, "It matters to this one. It deserves a chance to grow. It matters to this one, I can't save them all I know. But it matters to this one, I'll return it to the sea. It matters to this one, and it matters to me." I walked into the classroom, The teacher greeted me. She was helping ny study, he was struggling I could see. I said, "Tell me why you bother, why waste your time this way. ny's only one of millions, does it matter anyway?" And she said, "It matters to this one, he deserves a chance to grow. It matters to this one, I can't save them all I know. But it matters to this one, I'll help him be what he can be. It matters to this one, and it matters to me." Sincerely, Velvet

Incidentally, Journalist, Don Sinclair, is a gem! He never fails to amaze me in his willingness to present of all points of view! Sincere thanks! - v.