Essay About Martin L. Gross And Self-Esteem

Downfall Of American School Systems
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In our ever evolving world where some of the most popular things are plastic surgery,
self help books, and therapists, self-esteem is held on a high pedestal. Although having
good self-esteem is important we are now sacrificing our childrens academic learning
and possibly even their future success to protect it. After reading selections from authors
such as Martin L. Gross, Larry E. Frase and William Streshly I believe that the American
school system has many problems. American schools focus too much on building self-
esteem rather than academics and our bilingual programs are atrocious. Our students
need to be taught and prepared for the real world, not a world where everyone constantly
tells you how great you are. As Martin Gross says we live in a world where “rigor is
considered to be unwarranted, outmoded, and authoritarian (512)” If our schools
continue down this route our country will suffer the consequences of ill prepared leaders
and fall behind.
“The myth is that students must feel good about themselves before they can
learn. (Frase, Streshly 514)” I absolutely agree with Frase and Streshly on the subject of
self-esteem; although I do think self-esteem is important I dont think it is something that
should be influenced upon you. Self-esteem is something that should be acquired through
life experiences of failure and success, things to actually be proud of. There will come
a time for these kids when they will actually have to try to succeed and if they fail it
could be very damaging. Many schools have actually made their curriculum less
challenging in order to protect kids from failure and build self-esteem. As a result of
these actions high school graduates must be taught remedial subjects in college. In Myth
5: Self-esteem Must Come First- Then Learning by Larry E. Frase and William Streshly
they speak out about this:
[. . .] California universities are providing remedial mathematics and English to
thousands of students, all of whom graduated in the top third of their high school
classes. The education system believed that self-confidence and high self-esteem
are the best ways to enhance confidence, and that this would improve scholastic
achievement and good citizenship in general.(515)
Students want to feel like theyve earned their diploma so making courses easier to
protect self-esteem is pointless. I know that if I felt as though I didnt overcome any
obstacles I wouldnt be so proud of my accomplishment, as if I had cheated. I think
schools need to stop worrying so much about kids self-esteem and fulfill the reason they
were established, to teach.
I would also like to stress the importance of homework. Personally I dislike
homework as many others do but there is obviously value in doing it. Not only does it
enhance or challenge your grasp of a subject but it also teaches good qualities such as
perseverance and responsibility. Children will have to learn that their actions, or lack
there of, will have consequences. These are valuable lessons that need to be learned to
mature and grow as a person. Teachers in our schools are not assigning enough
homework if any at all. Martin L. Gross lists different reasons for this such as teachers
dont want to grade the papers, they dont want the students to dislike them, or didnt like
homework when they were children (512). Gross also mentions that parents are part of
the problem for they allow their kids to sit around and watch TV instead of doing their
work. I think Gross has a good point in this because whenever my parents show an
interest in my school work I will strive to do well and make them proud. Along with all
of this homework definitely enhances a students knowledge and their performance on
tests.
Id have to say the number one reason to do homework is the strong relation between
homework and educational success. I personally can say I better understand a subject if I
did the homework. Also if you try the assignment and cannot do it then you know you
should seek help. In classes where a teacher does