Comments on: Let our kids have fun http://wuzy.wordpress.com/2008/05/16/let-our-kids-have-fun/ What annoys, fascinates, bewilders. Sat, 31 May 2008 10:38:53 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: koalabravo http://wuzy.wordpress.com/2008/05/16/let-our-kids-have-fun/#comment-6 koalabravo Tue, 20 May 2008 13:05:11 +0000 http://wuzy.wordpress.com/?p=15#comment-6 I am so suspicious of the term "overachiever." It's one of those silly buzzwords that quickly falls apart under scrutiny. If one is setting realistic goals based on an honest appraisal of one's true abilities, then it should not be possible to over achieve. An athlete who improves upon their personal best isn't "over achieving", they are making what is usually a modest improvement on previous performances. Achieving a new personal best is not an every day event either as it is usually the result of prolonged and intense graft. So when parents talk about their little "overachievers" it usually boils down to one of two things. Either the parent has set the bar so low that pretty much anything the kid does is judged a major achievement or, more insidiously, the poor kid is expected to produce an endless succession of personal bests. Either way, it's bullshit talking. I am so suspicious of the term “overachiever.” It’s one of those silly buzzwords that quickly falls apart under scrutiny.

If one is setting realistic goals based on an honest appraisal of one’s true abilities, then it should not be possible to over achieve.

An athlete who improves upon their personal best isn’t “over achieving”, they are making what is usually a modest improvement on previous performances. Achieving a new personal best is not an every day event either as it is usually the result of prolonged and intense graft.

So when parents talk about their little “overachievers” it usually boils down to one of two things. Either the parent has set the bar so low that pretty much anything the kid does is judged a major achievement or, more insidiously, the poor kid is expected to produce an endless succession of personal bests. Either way, it’s bullshit talking.

]]> By: damob http://wuzy.wordpress.com/2008/05/16/let-our-kids-have-fun/#comment-3 damob Fri, 16 May 2008 10:12:30 +0000 http://wuzy.wordpress.com/?p=15#comment-3 Could not have said it better myself. Very sad about that girl. I thought it might be a suicide. Falling onto tracks just doesn't happen. Also, read her brother's reaction. It sounds a bit weird to me, like it was rehearsed. Strange situation indeed. Could not have said it better myself. Very sad about that girl. I thought it might be a suicide. Falling onto tracks just doesn’t happen. Also, read her brother’s reaction. It sounds a bit weird to me, like it was rehearsed. Strange situation indeed.

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