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Is it better for schools to be rigorous or nurturing?

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Rigorous		45%	328 votes	Total: 727 votes
Nurturing		55%	399 votes	Total: 727 votes

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Rigorous

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something, for themselves? Winning three straight super bowls on Madden Football does not count, not in the real world. By allowing our children to fail and to struggle teaches them the real world concept of consequences. Good choices result in good consequences. Being in trouble for not doing our homework both at school and at home is nurturing and tells our children they are competent and capable. Our children should learn to struggle with who they are, the truth about their abilities, and what they reasonably deserve in the world. Holding the bow even though their hand camps, press the E string, though it's cutting your finger will eventually result in being able to play the violin. One does not have to be a virtuoso to enjoy the accomplishment of overcoming personal discomfort, the delayed gratification of work and accepting the esteem and camaraderie of ones peers.

Our responsibility as teachers and parents is to allow our children to struggle without being overcome. To teach them to discipline themselves so they can live in freedom. That hurting is not an evil to be avoided, but an opportunity for endurance. When the world is dark and life is terrible, console yourself that you are on an adventure. It will make a great story latter to tell your friends who will be envious. Envious because they have never struggled and therefore never succeed, never hurt and therefore never overcame. They were never disciplined to discipline themselves and therefore not at liberty to chart their own course, to afraid of failure to leave the warmth and nurturing of mom and dad's couch to tempt failure.

Rigor may be dead in the shcools, but for the students that are disciplined enough to embrace rigorous study they will be thankful and successful.

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Below are the top articles rated and ranked by Helium members on:

Is it better for schools to be rigorous or nurturing?

Rigorous

1 of 48
by Ory

Rigorous or nurturing schools? The idea of going to a good school and getting a great education is romantic. Most families
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by American Citizen

Smooches, honey! Wow you got a "C"! I'm so proud you're average.
On one hand, it's a false choice between rigor and nurturance.
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Nurturing

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by Elaine Grant

School can be a frightening, insecure place for many children even those who are average or above average. A child with
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by Trisha Clark

I firmly believe school should be a combination of both rigorous training and nurturing the student emotionally. A school
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