Sunday March 29, 2009

Yesterday, Connor and I attended the NYS boating safety class from 9a-5pm. It was a very long day. At the end of the class, as the Sheriff/instructor (who also happens to be Connor's former art teacher at Geneseo Central School) passed out the test, he asked me if I wanted to go out in the hall and help Connor with the test. Connor was the only child there, and the Sheriff said that the test is at a 10th grade reading level. I responded that Connor can read at a 10th grade level, and that is why he is not at school anymore. The teacher said he wondered what happened to Connor, but he didn't know. Then he again said that the wording of the questions and the directions are confusing (many double negatives) and that he didn't think Connor would be able to pass it without an adult's help. I said, "That's ok, if he doesn't pass it then he can take the course and test again next month." One of the other attendees turned around and congratulated me on my decision. He was "old school," he said, and that is how people learn. Sometimes they must fail. This goes back to my concern about schools making so many accommodations to help students succeed that they forget how to fail and learn from the experience. In the end, Connor scored an 86% without any help from anyone, and he could walk away proud of himself because he passed without extra help.