Each of us fails from time to time．If we are wise，we accept these failures as a necessary part of the learning process．But all too often，as parents and teachers we deny this same right to our children．We convey either by words or by actions that failure is something to be ashamed of，that nothing but top performance meets with our approval ．
When I see a child subject to this kind of pressure，I think of Donnie．
Donnie was my youngest third-grader．He was a shy，nervous perfectionist ．His fear of failure kept him from classroom games that other children played with joy．He seldom answered questions—he might be wrong．Written assignments ，especially math，reduced him to nail-biting frustration ．He seldom finished his work because he repeatedly checked with me to be sure he hadn't made a mistake．
I tried my best to build his self-confidence ．And I repeatedly asked God for direction．But nothing changed until midterm，when Mary Anne，a student teacher，was assigned to our classroom．
She was young and pretty，and she loved children．My pupils，Donnie included，adored her．But even enthusiastic loving Mary Anne was baffled by this little boy who feared he might make a mistake．
Then one morning we were working math problems at the chalkboard．Donnie had copied the problems with painstaking neatness and filled in answers for the first row．Pleased with his progress，I left the children with Mary Anne and went for art materials．When I returned，Donnie was in tears．He'd missed the third problem．
My student teacher looked at me in despair ．Suddenly her face brightened．From the desk we shared，she got a can filled with pencils．
“Look，Donnie，”she said，kneeling beside him and gently lifting the tear'stained face from his arms．“I've got something to show you．”She removed the pencils，one at a time，and placed them on his desk．
“See these pencils，Donnie．”she continued．“They belong to Mrs．Lindstrom and me．See how the erasers are worn？That's because we make mistakes too．Lots of them．But we erase the mistakes and try again．That's what you must learn to do，too．”
She kissed him and stood up．“Here，”she said，“I'll leave one of these pencils on your desk so you'll remember that everybody makes mistakes，even teachers．”Donnie looked up with love in his eyes and just a glimmer of a smile — the first I'd see on his face that year．
The pencil became Donnie's prized possession ．That，together with Mary Anne's frequent encouragement and unfailing praise for even Donnie's small successes，gradually persuaded him that it's all right to make mistakes — as long as you erase them and try again．
Words and Expressions
- deny v．剥夺，否认
- convey v．传达
- approval n．赞同
- perfectionist n．完美主义者
- assignment n．任务
- frustration n．挫折
- self-confidence n．自信
- baffle v．抵制
- painstaking adj．辛苦的
- neatness n．整齐，整洁
- despair n．绝望
- eraser n．橡皮擦
- glimmer n．闪光，闪烁
- possession n．财富
- frequent adj．频繁的
- unfailing adj．可靠的，经久不衰的
Read and recite the following sentences：
（1）We convey either by words or by actions that failure is something to be ashamed of，that nothing but top performance meets with our approval．
（2）His fear of failure kept him from classroom games that other children played with joy．
（3）That，together with Mary Anne's frequent encouragement and unfailing praise for even Donnie's small successes，gradually persuaded him that it's all right to make mistakes — as long as you erase them and try again．
孰能无过
我们每个人都会不时出错。聪明人承认自己的错误，并将其视为学习过程中的必不可少的一部分。但是我们作为老师和家长，却又常常不能接受孩子们和我们一样有犯错的权利。我们用语言甚或行动告诉他们犯错是件丢人的事，只有最好的表现才能得到我们的赞赏。
我一看见有孩子遭受这种压力，就会想起唐尼。
唐尼是我三年级班里年龄最小的学生，他腼腆，惴惴不安，事事求全。他害怕出错，从不参加班里的游戏，可别人都玩得不亦乐乎。他从不回答自己没有把握的问题。写作业，尤其是数学作业急得他抓头搔耳，手足无措。他为了作业不出错反反复复和我校对答案，所以他经常不能完成作业。
我想尽办法让他建立自信，都无济于事。我也无数次向上帝寻求方向，但总也无济于事，直到学期中段，玛丽·安妮，一个实习教师分配到了我们班。
她很年轻又漂亮。她爱孩子，我的学生们包括唐尼也都非常喜欢她。可是就连这位热情、充满爱心的玛丽老师也觉得这个小家伙害怕出错的行为难以理解。
后来有一天早晨，我们在黑板上做数学题。唐尼煞费苦心工工整整地在黑板上抄写题目，并且把第一行的答案填了出来。看到他的进步我很高兴，放心地把孩子们留给玛丽照顾，我去拿了一趟美术用品。回来发现唐尼正在哭哭啼啼，原来他把第三题落了没抄。
我的实习教师失望地看着我。突然她眼前一亮，从我们共用的讲台的抽屉里拿出一筒铅笔。
“唐尼，你看，”玛丽老师说。一面蹲下身子靠近唐尼，一面轻轻地把他沾满泪水的小脸从他胳膊上抬起来。玛丽老师把一支支的铅笔摆在了唐尼的课桌上。
玛丽老师说道：“看到这些铅笔了吗？唐尼，这是我和林德斯特伦老师的铅笔。你知道为什么上面的橡皮磨下去许多吗？那是因为我们也犯错，也会犯很多错误。但是我们把错误擦掉再写一次。这也正是你要学会的啊。”
玛丽老师亲了一下小家伙站了起来。她说：“瞧，我给你的桌上留一枝铅笔，这样你就会记住每个人都会犯错了，就连老师也一样。”唐尼抬头微微笑了笑，眼中带着感激，看了看老师，那一年我还是第一次看到他露出会心的微笑。
那枝铅笔成了唐尼的奖赏。它和玛丽老师不断的鼓励，再加上无论多小的成绩都能得到持久的表扬，渐渐地唐尼明白了犯错很正常，只要知错能改就是好孩子。