Education: Why do teachers do this?

This is got to be one of the three top most shameful things teachers do.
Why do they do it?

Last week the great guitarist Les Paul died at age 94. He invented the electric guitar.

When he was age 8, his music teacher sent a note home to his mother. The note read, "Your boy Lester will never learn music, so save your money. Please don't send him for any more lessons."

Every day teachers say this to children. What countless talents have been lost because teachers have discouraged, rather than encouraged, learning?  Photo: Gibson Les Paul guitar named after him

Comments

[Suzanne]

I think it's because a lot of teachers have a "right way" "wrong way" approach to teaching. Therefore if you do not think, write, analyze, whatever, the "right way" then you must be doing it the "wrong way."

I ran into this a lot in elementary school, because, I think, my thought process is a little unusual - or maybe not mainstream. I do realize now, by the time I was in 5th or 6th grade I could "fake it" that my brain worked like everyone elses.

I don't have any learning disabilities, etc. I'm just creative.

[Tim in San Antonio]

Yep, Suzanne gets it. The Gifted and Talented group often receive such bullying; Paul's experience with his teacher in the 1920s is just one example. But being mean to kids is not a teacher problem. It's societal, because in so many domains, society winks at verbal and physical abuse of the least powerful among us, children and adults alike.

[Angelina]

Exactly, very well said! This is what is really outlandish to some extent - those who are already good at school get the more attention!

[IP]

I think there is nothing wrong with giving more attention to those who are really good - but the NEGATIVITIES come in when you fail to maintain the balance between giving ENOUGH attention to those who deserves more - such as the "slower" students, I'd say.