This clarifies for me a number of harmful practices that have emerged in UK schools over the last decade or so. The first move was for the gov’t to tell teachers there were ‘no excuses’ for any child or group of children to underachieve. I think this was 50% well-intentioned way to address low expectations of certain groups of students and 50% letting the gov’t off the hook for tackling child poverty, the biggest factor in underachievement, or properly funding SEND. Perfectionism demanded of teachers was quickly passed down to pupils with similar ‘no excuses’ rhetoric. My kids were constantly told that their school was a ‘100% school’ 100% attendance, focus, homework, good behaviour, hard work etc. They found this extremely stressful and they are bright well-behaved kids with lots of support (albeit neurodivergent). Absolutely toxic environment. The sad thing is that all the teachers there are hardworking and caring, believing that what they are doing is helping kids from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Oh yes, perfectionism is the internalized critical voice that spreads shame wherever it goes. It breeds discontent with self, procrastination, anxiety and ultimately failure. High standards coupled with the expectation that everyone will achieve them is a formula that leaves many children behind. To survive it, they abandon themselves which leads to a myriad of negative mental health outcomes. As an overly responsible child, I thought if I was perfect, (really good was not enough), I could make my father, who suffered from PTSD post world war II, happy. I wanted nothing more.
This clarifies for me a number of harmful practices that have emerged in UK schools over the last decade or so. The first move was for the gov’t to tell teachers there were ‘no excuses’ for any child or group of children to underachieve. I think this was 50% well-intentioned way to address low expectations of certain groups of students and 50% letting the gov’t off the hook for tackling child poverty, the biggest factor in underachievement, or properly funding SEND. Perfectionism demanded of teachers was quickly passed down to pupils with similar ‘no excuses’ rhetoric. My kids were constantly told that their school was a ‘100% school’ 100% attendance, focus, homework, good behaviour, hard work etc. They found this extremely stressful and they are bright well-behaved kids with lots of support (albeit neurodivergent). Absolutely toxic environment. The sad thing is that all the teachers there are hardworking and caring, believing that what they are doing is helping kids from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Oh yes, perfectionism is the internalized critical voice that spreads shame wherever it goes. It breeds discontent with self, procrastination, anxiety and ultimately failure. High standards coupled with the expectation that everyone will achieve them is a formula that leaves many children behind. To survive it, they abandon themselves which leads to a myriad of negative mental health outcomes. As an overly responsible child, I thought if I was perfect, (really good was not enough), I could make my father, who suffered from PTSD post world war II, happy. I wanted nothing more.
Just about anything taken to an extreme as bad. However , at the very extremes, this is where mastery lies.