Wk2 - Comment #1 - Jamie J. Steele

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After reading the chapters in “Art of Possibility” this past weekend, I was moved by the third chapter, “Giving an A” and the message it sent to it’s readers. This philosophy falls in line with the effort-based mindset theory that Carol Dweck has been researching over the past ten years. This particular chapter struck a chord deep within me due to my own profession and why I chose to enter into it.

As a school counselor I am charged with ensuring that the social/emotional needs of students are being met so that they can live out their full potential in the classroom arena. The letter that Katrine wrote to Ben brought forth a well of emotion and his explanation on “how seldom we pay attention to, or even look for, the passionate and the extraordinary in children—how seldom we give children an A” (pg. 46).

When I entered the ninth grade I had a teacher named Mr. Leitz. He would drink three Diet Cokes a day, put his feet up on his desk when he lectured, and wrote on the chalkboard in a way that was impossible to decipher. He also taught me the most important lesson in life in terms of my own identity. We were to write an analysis paper on “The Lord of the Flies” for our first assignment. As usual, I procrastinated until the night before and turned in a mediocre effort. Without even looking up from his desk, Mr. Leitz handed the paper back to me and said, “Do it again.” I asked why and he replied with, “I’ve given you an A on this paper and now you need to earn it.” I was irate about having to do the entire paper again but look back on that moment with gratitude and thankfulness. He saw the extraordinary in me even when I could not see it in myself. Reading this chapter made my mind jump back to ninth grade AP Literature and Mr. Leitz.

I often share this story as one of the reasons for becoming a school counselor and having the philosophy that I have. I was so inspired by this chapter that I shared the entire text with my wife who stared at me with a look of confusion and humor. This idea that we remove the barriers of failure and anxiety from kids and allow them to create free from restrictions is spectacular and hopefully adopted by our educational system, in certain cases, in the future. I will wrap up this post with one of my favorite quotes by e.e. cummings.

Once We Believe

In Ourselves

We Can Risk

Curiosity

Wonder

Spontaneous Delight

Or Any Experience

That Reveals The

Human Spirit.

Zander, R. S. (2002). The art of possibility. New York, NY: Penguin Books.J

My Response:

In my high school math class, I used to stare out the window.  My teacher used to chastise me by saying “You are going to regret that one day.”  I had no idea how correct his prophecy would be.  In grad school, I finally hit the brick wall.  I was confronted with remedial algebraic equations that seemed like rocket science formulas to me.  As predicted, not only was I filled with regret, but also I had to return to that same high school teacher for assistance. 

Your comments were thought provoking and insightful -- yes, I also had to relive “a moment in my educational history.”   The quote “Once we believe ...We can risk ... or any experience that reveals the human spirit” took me waaay back.  Math was not scintillating, exciting or even remotely interesting -- I chose not to deal with it at all.  Part of it could have been fear (of failure)-- not being willing to risk failing  -- but mostly, it did not touch my spirit.  Knowing what I know now has enabled me to understand the plight of children today.  We must open the doors to the universe for them, inspire them to take the risk so that they can experience what life has to offer and urge them to give themselves an “A” for their efforts.