Grades, Rakes, and Reflection: Helping Kids Do Less To Do Better - With Teacher & Writer Tim Donahue

The Self-Driven Child

In this episode, I sit down with Tim Donahue, a seasoned high school English teacher and a writer, to dive into the pressures of grade inflation, the impact on student resilience, and why kids today feel overwhelmed by academic and extracurricular demands. Tim’s unique perspective, drawn from years in the classroom and as a published writer, sheds light on how grade inflation and the drive for high grades may actually be compromising students' learning and mental health.

Together, we explore how students and parents can navigate the academic landscape to foster genuine learning, creativity, and stress tolerance. Tim also shares his insights on the importance of doing less to achieve more, advocating for a balanced approach that prioritizes reflection and meaningful engagement over relentless achievement.

Episode Highlights:
[04:12] - Discussing grade inflation and its effects on teaching, learning, and the integrity of feedback.
[08:13] - The role of resilience in education and how students benefit from realistic feedback, even if it means lower grades.
[12:00] - How inflated grades can deprive students of vital information about their strengths and weaknesses.
[17:18] - Examining the disconnect between high school and college expectations, and the effect on students’ mental health.
[23:37] - Tim’s passion for “less is more” and the importance of brevity and reflection in learning.
[36:39] - The impact of recreational screen time on student well-being and the hidden benefits of spending time in nature.
[43:27] - Finding peace and mindfulness through activities like raking leaves and the restorative power of nature.

Links & Resources:

• https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/25/opinion/coronavirus-scream.html
• https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/television/what-high-schoolers-need-to-start-the-year-seinfeld-style-griping-cea5f83d
• https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/23/opinion/grade-inflation-high-school.html
• https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/07/opinion/high-school-students-free-time.html
• https://hechingerreport.org/teacher-voice-how-the-sad-shadow-of-book-banning-shuts-down-conversations-and-lacerates-librarians/
• https://www.easthamptonstar.com/guestwords-opinion/20211021/guestwords-consider-rake
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26168472/

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If you have a high school aged student and would like to talk about putting a tutoring or college plan together, reach out to Ned's company, PrepMatters at www.prepmatters.com