So, this wasn’t what I had anticipated my first ‘proper’ entry revolving around, but it seems quite topical, and I wanted to share my thoughts.
Those of you that live in England will be aware that today was GCSE results day, and that not so long ago college students also got their exam results as well. Many an adolescent across the country ripping open an envelope to a page of A through to E’s; singular letters ascribed to their academic achievements relevant to the last couple of years. That’s what it comes down to – all those hours (or maybe not!) spent studying, writing assignments or preparing for exams culminated in that letter. In a seemingly literal way it is the ticket to their future; college, uni, apprenticeship, minimum wage job, dole cue.
My attention was brought to this by the flooding of facebook statuses – my memory of those moments quite distant, and now, even quite insignificant (we’ll get to that in a minute). Statuses of nerves, excitement and fear…shortly followed by pride and elation, or disappointment and a feeling of failure.
Many of the people who I share my life with – be that centrally or more peripherally – haven’t had an easy ride out of life. A large proportion of my friends and acquaintances have struggling with mental illness; eating disorders, depression, anxiety and similar….and lets not forget the problems which, for some, caused these diagnoses. I have this culmination of people in my life because of my own life history and struggles. Understanding, deep understanding the magnet that attracts us to each other.
So, when I logged onto my computer earlier today to a page of exam result relevant status from these very people my heart sank. Not because they all did ‘badly’; there was of course a wide variety of results – as you would expect, but because of the judgment in those grades. The lives right before me judged entirely on an A, a C, an E. Since when was life purely about the grades we get?
These people, every living person, is *so* much more than grades produced by exams and assignments. They possess qualities such as compassion, kindness, and a sense of humour. They are inspiring, formidable and each unique. Yet they, we, every single year judge them based upon results of standardised tests. And how standardised are these tests really? They certainly don’t take into account the life challenges these people have faced, how ‘good’ of a person they have been, they rarely even consider the difference in learning style. Nor do they consider the actual learning taken place, or how much the person has progressed; for example many a C grade student worked 10 times harder and attained more than their A grade friend with a natural aptitude for that subject.
Did we, as they walked into that exam hall consider other facets of the person; have they done a good deed this year, created happy memories for others (and themselves), have they done something generous or thoughtful? No one checked how they were doing, are they happy, depressed, have they a supportive home life where studying is encouraged, or did they just close a front door behind them and walk to this test leaving their half beaten mother crying from a domestic violence out burst last night? Perhaps even, they were the victim, and covered by those school trousers or hidden by the make up the bruises of truth are forming.
There are many situations and circumstances I leave un’said’ but you get the idea. To me these tests and grades are not entirely indicative of the potential these young people hold within themselves. I feel a sense of frustration within this. A frustration that without this column might have gone unsaid; for I am guilty of praising the A grades and consoling the E grades as if I to agree with this whole setup. I wish there was more I could do to encourage those that may not have attainted a grade they desired.
I assume by now it is clear to the reader that I was once one of these students. Shockingly, upon return a hand full of years later to the school I once attended a teacher uttered the words “we were worried about you, I’m glad to see you are alive”. I’m not angry for their inaction, but my heart aches for the 100’s in that same position. I was fortunate in finding a healthier and happier life within which I have achieved; academically and more importantly personally. However, I feel this injustice in the system. Some, I can’t give you a percentage but some of these young people wont be that fortunate. They won’t be given an ‘out’. A happy ending. A fairer shot at life. They very well, instead, may remain trapped by the simple fact that results letter today was E, through no fault of their own. These completely capable young people. What if someone had just asked for the truth, the real truth, not the one assumed by the family portrait hanging on the wall? Our world needs these young people or this cycle will just continue.
If your one of those very people - take from this post my beleif that the grade/s you recieved are not the end. You can still have the life you want. Just be preapred to fight a bit harder' like i'm certain you can.
My thoughts for today.
TC
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