Tribute to a "C" Student

Competition is different now; grownups are keeping score.

Many adults have a tendency to deny how hard some children must try in order to learn. Phyllis Feibelman urges us to help these youngsters be proud of their accomplishments.

A generation of two back, a C meant "satisfactory." They called it "a gentleman's C." At that time, children played ball on corner lots and swam in creeks and fished with strings on river banks. They competed - who could spit farthest - things like that.

Competition is different now; grown ups are keeping score. Grades must be A's, even in grammar school, or future chances for advanced degrees are threatened. Ball is played in leagues with uniforms and coaches and competition involves moms and dads. Kids swim on teams and they must win or feel like losers. Fish are weighed and measured in contests; good fishermen take home prizes.

But even now, some children do not win. Some students work and work hard to earn a C. I'd like to pay tribute to those students.

I would like to recognize the "C" that stands for COPING. My dictionary explains: "to struggle or contend." Learning disabled children certainly do that. They build a strength that ought to earn our praise.

I would also like to recognize that "C" stands for COMPENSATION. A child who cannot learn one way must somehow find another. We should respect learning "how" to learn as well as "what."

Most of all, I would like to recognize that "C" stands for COURAGE. Some children neither make the honor rolls nor come home with the trophies, but they try and try and keep on trying. They exhibit courage few of us can match. To risk failure again . . . that takes guts. I see it. I salute it. I am proud.

Some children have not yet learned to cope or compensate. Some are not as brave as they will need to be. Our job is to teach them. Whatever else they learn, they must know these: How to COPE, COMPENSATE, and have COURAGE. They'll grow to be C students we are proud of, and I hope they will feel pride too in what they've done.

This is my tribute to them all.

Ed Note: This was reprinted from The Exceptional Parent, May, 1986.