Education Today: The Value of Failure

By Sharlonda Buckman, CEO, Detroit Parent Network

As parents, we are often quick to see what our school systems are doing that could be improved. We value are quality teachers for working so hard to bring out our children's natural learning abilities, yet knowing our child deserves the very best, we can see every system's flaws.

Remember: an education foundation begins at home, equity begins with a mindset, and your children's academic standards begin with knowing what is acceptable not only to their teacher, but more so to their parents.

This is not to say we should give our children harsh punishments when they don't make the grade, but we teach them to value their failures.

We should teach them to have high standards for themselves and that their challenges can contribute to their successes— this is the value of lifelong learning.

When students are afraid to show their parents a test they failed it's due to the consequences of that red D or E. Did they study extremely hard for their exam or put it off entirely?

Show your son our daughter why soft skills such as commitment, perseverance, communication, and teamwork are so imperative to their growth. What matters more than the grade is what they learned from their challenge.

Find out more about Detroit Parent Network and join today! You can gain access to trainings, workshops, and parent support groups, among many other benefits. Find out more at http://www.detroitparentnetwork.org/ or on Facebook and Twitter (@DPNdetroit).