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A big "LIKE" to that.
I hope it's genuine.
To those who don't do so good at exams, that must mean so very much. At that age, failing exams hurts like hell, damages our self-esteem & scars us for life.
I will bite then . . . . . away from the rights and wrongs of KS2
KS2 is a academic test. Scoring the abilities of individuals at achieving specific academic targets.
Although the letter is well written and the sentiment is well meaning (as long as all pupils receive the same letter pass or fail) it does cover over the fact that you are being tested in specific areas, against specific criteria.
When you are 17 if you fail your driving test the instructor does not say, that's alright as you are a nice person who excels in other areas, don't worry about it. If you fail your first year at Uni you don't get a supporting letter praising you for your work at Oxfam, or caring for your sick Gran.
Its just another step towards de-sensitising our youth to the harsh realities of life, your childhood is where you build your coping mechanisms, if you never lose or fail, or are given excuses at every corner where will you learn to strive, survive, improve etc
If one pupil goes to secondary school with a inkling that academia is not for them because they are not that sort of person it is very sad IMO. I am not sure any pupil should be lost to academia at 11 and too me that letter promotes that more then it helps those that are below average.
And what if you are the child that does not play an instrument, speak a second language or visit interesting places, bet that group feels highly motivated by this communication.
In fact reading the letter again it would far more sense if it was written to the parents.
Good morning, & sorry for the delayed reply. So much to do, so little time.
First up, I've no idea what "KS2" is, I did 11 Plus, 13 Plus, & GCE's. (Respectively, FAILED, PASSED, & FAILED 5 of 6).
Anyway, I actually DO agree with your general sentiment about over-protecting children & adolescents. The more bumps & bruises they suffer in childhood, the better, as far as I am concerned. I believe that very strongly indeed. Parents who mollycoddle their kids, wrap them in cotton-wool, almost deserve reporting to the NSPCC for cruelty, because it disadvantages them for life. And no, before anyone reminds me, I am not, & have never been, a parent (well not yet, but watch this space, you never know), so maybe I'm out of order, or maybe I can be more objective.
But I DO think those Exams are a little bit of an exception to the rule. As children, school WAS our life, everything revolved around school & in Exam Years, everything revolved around those exams. Quite right too, perhaps. It's important that he head into adulthood as well educated as possible.
But maybe TOO much pressure is thrown on those immature minds & bodies.
I went to Primary School with two kids in my street. We walked to school together, played together in the playground, sat together in class, walked home together, then played football or "fives" in the street together after school. Those two lads - Raymond Chillingsworth & Barry Hughes (54 years on, I still remember their names), were what my life revolved around. 7 days a week. Life at home was not ideal, but it did not matter - I had my 2 mates, Ray & Barry, & as long as I did, life was fine.
Exam time came & went. Then came the letter from the School, or Exam Board. It was a Roneo'd thing (remember Roneo?), one line of Text, followed by two check boxes, "PASS" or "FAIL", and a simple "X" was inserted in one or the other.
Mine, of course, had an X in the less pleasing box.
So what? It did not bother me. Academia? What's that? Career prospects? What they? Neither bothered me one iota. Life was about playing football in the street with Barry, Ray, & the other lads.
Until.....
A few hours later, I discovered that Ray & Barry & all the others had all passed their 11 Plus, & were off to Grammar School, whilst I was assigned to the local comprehensive.
No exaggeration, that was one of the worst days of my life. Nothing to do with them being bright, & me not so, nothing at all. That day, I lost my mates, & became aware that I was an
inferior person.
So they went to the School Outfitters for their new uniforms, & I went with them. They got THAT uniform, & I got the other uniform.
Soon, school started, & we all had to get a bus, from the same bus-stop. Along would come the first bus, & they'd all get on, laughing & joking. I waited behind, on my own, for the next bus.
Humbling, humiliating, hurtful? Just a bit. Those few weeks were amongst the most painful & hurtful of my life. Words of solace from my parents? No chance. Neither seemed bothered. It was left to me to grapple with it. And within weeks, my stammer got worse, & with it, obviously, my ability to communicate. If a kid stammers, answering questions, or talking, is the worst nightmare from hell.
Please don't speak to me as I'll have to try to answer, & then you'll all be politely supressing the giggles. So fuck off, fuck right off now.
Was it good for me in the long run? Of course it was. Best "life lesson" ever ever ever. It was a huge life bonus, & served me better than anything could, ever. It was the smack in the chops that was exactly what I needed.
Could or should it have been handled a little better? You bet. Honest to God, if I'd received that Letter, which said "OK, it's NOT the end of the world, you are NOT a thicko, you are a good person who cares for others, you can still look forward to life" life would have been so much better, & it would all have made so much more sense to me. And losing my mates would have made so much more sense, & maybe be acceptable. I was not a bad person, I still had redeeming features, & things to look forward to, just because I failed an exam. Life was not over.
So in this case, I think the letter is well-intentioned, & a very good thing. And how wonderful in this day & age that they cared enough to at least try & set "fail" in context. Yes, you failed laddo, but only at THAT thing.
That apart, yes, of course, don't mollycoddle kids.
Talking of kids, how is the apple of your eye, young Anya? (God, I do hope I've spelt it correctly for the first time ever). I reckon she should be due a baby Bro or Sissie. What a life that would be, eh?
x
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