Excellence.

[Sparkle_Cherry]

Teachers always say things like: ''Try Your Best!'' or ''Work Your Hardest!'', right? Well, today at the Grade 10 assembly our Principal made a speech. In that speech, he said something along these lines:

''Being perfect is not a difficult thing to do. I expect each and every one of you to generate excellence in everything you do. Perfection is required in order to succeed.''

Am I the only one who thinks that's wrong? I mean, that's a hell of a lot of pressure to put on a bunch of 15/16 year-olds isn't it? It's people like him that make perfectionists, and lead people to stress, depression and anxiety.

If I hadn't been worried that I might have gotten a referral to the administration, then I would have stood up right then and told him how I felt about what he was saying.

How do you feel about this? Am I just overreacting, or am I making some sense here? Discuss.

 

[::Snow_White::]

I agree with you.

Nobody can be perfect anyway.
I have stress just doing the best I can, and trying to tell me I have to be perfect...
Makes me feel alot more stressed, which would ultimately lead me to worse grades...so it's pretty much having an negative impact.

 

[2HOT2touch]

I think he went a little over bored with 'perfection is required to succeed', but I think you should always do your best because slacking off is not going to get you anywhere.

 

[Tinkerbell424]

I agree with you.
First of all,perfection is impossible.
Second of all,I think that the school system put's too much pressure on kids.

In Florida we have to take the FCAT. And from the beginning of school until the FCAT we practice,practice,practice and ugh...it's just so much pressure!

School is the reason why I am so stressed out.
I think that they should be happy if we just try our best.

 

[BabyPiglet]

There's no such thing as 'perfect'.

 

[Sparkle_Cherry]

I have stress just doing the best I can, and trying to tell me I have to be perfect...

Exactly. These days, kids have trouble just trying to keep up. But expecting us to achieve something which, like Jenny says, does not even exist, is homicidal.

I'm currently having major issues with ''perfection''. If I don't deliver 100% on one little assignment, then my parents and teachers are ''disappointed in me''. Do adults even realize what that does to a kid? It strikes a very sensitive area.

 

[BabyPiglet]

I have to add, which is why I like homeschool so much better. My mom said she will be absolutely happy if I pass everything. Pass. Not make straight
100's, but pass. Which in turn, makes the stress go away SO MUCH, and I make mostly A's on everything. I think my mom used some of that good ol' reverse physcology.

 

[Babyjustrun]

Oh good lord, my teachers are nuts.

One of them, basically says that she hates the saying 'Do your best' because people can get 100's or whatever on their test, but they're not really doing their best. They may just be doing the work, but not understanding it.
She also says that she's not good at math, which confuses me as to why she's teaching it.

My homeroom/Personal Development/Music teacher was saying that 'Oh fine be different, but you probably won't get a job if you dye your hair rainbow.'
And stuff like, yeah sure you can pass stuff, but if your grades aren't good, you'll have like no options. He was basically saying he never got into teaching because he loved to teach, only because his grades weren't high enough to go to med school or whatever. AND he wouldn't have even gotten to take a teaching degree if he didn't have a sports scholarship.

 

[pigletgirl]

Well, I think there are different degrees of perfection. Someone who is learning disabled isn't going to be able to perform as a gifted student would, but if their BOTH doing exceedingly well in the classes they're in, I would say that was excellence.

Your principal doesn't want any slackers.

 

[AngelInDisguise]

Well being perfect is great.
Just as long as you don't keep messing up.
So I agree with his speech.

 

[Kats~Meow]

Perfection is a pretty strong word to use. It is bound to set so many up for failure who are trying to reach it, because no one is perfect. I say you just try your damnest and that should be good enough for both you and the school.

 

[Disney.Ears]

There's no such thing as 'perfect'.

Your teacher went too far to say that you need to be "perfect" to succeed. That makes no sense. Everyone makes mistakes and you learn from them, that's what leads to success IMO.

 

[Lizbon]

There's no such thing as 'perfect'.

Thats all I have to say. Haha

 

[MuNkY]

For some reason school administrators seem to think that you can do anything if you really really try.

Well I'm sure I couldn't hit a Rodger Clemens fast ball, even if I really really tried, and even if I did it'd just be dumb luck.

 

[Sparkle_Cherry]

For some reason school administrators seem to think that you can do anything if you really really try.

Well I'm sure I couldn't hit a Rodger Clemens fast ball, even if I really really tried, and even if I did it'd just be dumb luck.

That's an excellent point.

 

[xo juicy splash]

Well being perfect is great.
Just as long as you don't keep messing up.
So I agree with his speech.

No one is perfect.

There's no such thing as 'perfect'.

Ah-greed.

Second of all,I think that the school system put's too much pressure on kids.

I totally agree!

 

[GirlWithSpunk]

I think it just pressures everyone more then they already are.
I know it does to me.
I mean my parents always pressure me to get 100% on tests and if I get less than an A its like "Ohh well you could do better..."

 

[Sparkle_Cherry]

... I mean my parents always pressure me to get 100% on tests and if I get less than an A its like "Ohh well you could do better..."

Oh, I know how that feels. Several times I have gotten 98% or 99% as a final mark for a class, and my dad says each time: ''What happend to that two percent, Caitlin?''

 

[xo juicy splash]

I think it just pressures everyone more then they already are.
I know it does to me.
I mean my parents always pressure me to get 100% on tests and if I get less than an A its like "Ohh well you could do better..."