Comments on: And The Award Goes To … http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/2011/07/22/and-the-award-goes-to/ freelance writing by a freelance writer that works in the freelance writing field Sat, 19 May 2012 09:11:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mark http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/2011/07/22/and-the-award-goes-to/comment-page-1/#comment-14807 Mark Tue, 26 Jul 2011 06:23:33 +0000 http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/?p=2223#comment-14807 Hi George, I know you're another one who's seen all this first-hand. As parents, we just have to plug the gaps as best we can, instil in our kids some sense of reality, and be there to support them right through until we turn our toes up. Mark Hi George,

I know you’re another one who’s seen all this first-hand. As parents, we just have to plug the gaps as best we can, instil in our kids some sense of reality, and be there to support them right through until we turn our toes up.

Mark

]]> By: George Angus http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/2011/07/22/and-the-award-goes-to/comment-page-1/#comment-14801 George Angus Sun, 24 Jul 2011 17:06:12 +0000 http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/?p=2223#comment-14801 Mark, It's just like in college when the Profs hand out "A"s to everyone who just does the work. Devalues the meaning of the good grade. If everyone receives an award, then there is no more award. This is especially true in the topsy-turvey, upside down, politically correct freakshow that we know as the United States of America. George Mark,

It’s just like in college when the Profs hand out “A”s to everyone who just does the work. Devalues the meaning of the good grade. If everyone receives an award, then there is no more award.

This is especially true in the topsy-turvey, upside down, politically correct freakshow that we know as the United States of America.

George

]]> By: Mark http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/2011/07/22/and-the-award-goes-to/comment-page-1/#comment-14800 Mark Sun, 24 Jul 2011 14:06:28 +0000 http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/?p=2223#comment-14800 Hi Walker, I think you've commented before on one of my educational rants, and if I didn't say it then, I'll say it now: hats off to you for sticking in there. If the teaching profession was full of flakes like me who cannot cope with the kids, then ... well, the profession wouldn't be very full at all. Mark Hi Walker,

I think you’ve commented before on one of my educational rants, and if I didn’t say it then, I’ll say it now: hats off to you for sticking in there. If the teaching profession was full of flakes like me who cannot cope with the kids, then … well, the profession wouldn’t be very full at all.

Mark

]]> By: Mark http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/2011/07/22/and-the-award-goes-to/comment-page-1/#comment-14799 Mark Sun, 24 Jul 2011 14:03:52 +0000 http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/?p=2223#comment-14799 Hi Steve, Thanks, bud. Glad my rancour has some positive effect :-) Hi Steve,

Thanks, bud. Glad my rancour has some positive effect :-)

]]> By: Mark Pepper http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/2011/07/22/and-the-award-goes-to/comment-page-1/#comment-14798 Mark Pepper Sun, 24 Jul 2011 13:56:47 +0000 http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/?p=2223#comment-14798 Hi Megan, Your comments are appreciated. Yes, my tongue is in my cheek. I go OTT to emphasise a point. I'm sure your kids are very bright, and there are plenty that are. I just think it's a great shame when you can't really differentiate between the truly bright and the ones who are failing because of up-marking so kids don't get upset and schools don't appear to be failing. My brief time as a secondary school drama teacher was enough to shock me to the core. Kids who can should be allowed to soar. Dumbing down and marking up blurs it all, though. As you say, great parenting skills are essential, now more than ever, and I agree schools need to congratulate achievements, especially in the absence of parental praise. Thanks again, and thanks for taking Pepper with a pinch of salt. Mark Hi Megan,

Your comments are appreciated. Yes, my tongue is in my cheek. I go OTT to emphasise a point. I’m sure your kids are very bright, and there are plenty that are. I just think it’s a great shame when you can’t really differentiate between the truly bright and the ones who are failing because of up-marking so kids don’t get upset and schools don’t appear to be failing. My brief time as a secondary school drama teacher was enough to shock me to the core. Kids who can should be allowed to soar. Dumbing down and marking up blurs it all, though. As you say, great parenting skills are essential, now more than ever, and I agree schools need to congratulate achievements, especially in the absence of parental praise. Thanks again, and thanks for taking Pepper with a pinch of salt.

Mark

]]> By: Walker http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/2011/07/22/and-the-award-goes-to/comment-page-1/#comment-14797 Walker Sat, 23 Jul 2011 16:34:33 +0000 http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/?p=2223#comment-14797 Well, the bonus for some of us in the field already is less (good) competition! But, really, it is a sad state of affairs that our current culture feels the need to soften every blow, boost every ego and eliminate all chances of seeing the hard,cruel world as it can be sometimes. Your example is a great one and beautifully connected to the topic of freelance writing! Yeah for SEO and creativity-and humor. Well, the bonus for some of us in the field already is less (good) competition!
But, really, it is a sad state of affairs that our current culture feels the need to soften every blow, boost every ego and eliminate all chances of seeing the hard,cruel world as it can be sometimes. Your example is a great one and beautifully connected to the topic of freelance writing! Yeah for SEO and creativity-and humor.

]]> By: Steve http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/2011/07/22/and-the-award-goes-to/comment-page-1/#comment-14796 Steve Sat, 23 Jul 2011 13:25:00 +0000 http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/?p=2223#comment-14796 Mark: Thanks for a desperately needed chuckle. Steve Mark:

Thanks for a desperately needed chuckle.

Steve

]]> By: Megan Collins Quinlan http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/2011/07/22/and-the-award-goes-to/comment-page-1/#comment-14793 Megan Collins Quinlan Fri, 22 Jul 2011 14:03:55 +0000 http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/?p=2223#comment-14793 I know you are writing with your tongue firmly in your cheek - however... My son is 12 and I also attended one of these assemblies this week. he was awarded a trophy for science and ICT. he thoroughly deserved these awards because he is a very bright kid. it doesn't matter how often I tell him that, he needs to hear it from his teachers and in front of his peers. My son's school doesn't do awards for attendance or tying shoelaces - they focus on achievements in core subjects and so they should. but not all kids are good at academic subjects and they deserve recognition for the things they can do well at. I am lucky to have two very clever children who do well in all subjects and are well behaved. but not all kids have parents like me and my husband. Some get no encouragement at home and their parents couldn't care less if they do well or not. So having the school recognise them is important. Tongue back in cheek now.... I know you are writing with your tongue firmly in your cheek – however…

My son is 12 and I also attended one of these assemblies this week. he was awarded a trophy for science and ICT. he thoroughly deserved these awards because he is a very bright kid. it doesn’t matter how often I tell him that, he needs to hear it from his teachers and in front of his peers.

My son’s school doesn’t do awards for attendance or tying shoelaces – they focus on achievements in core subjects and so they should. but not all kids are good at academic subjects and they deserve recognition for the things they can do well at.

I am lucky to have two very clever children who do well in all subjects and are well behaved. but not all kids have parents like me and my husband. Some get no encouragement at home and their parents couldn’t care less if they do well or not. So having the school recognise them is important.

Tongue back in cheek now….

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