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Thursday, January 31, 2008
Are students under pressure to achieve?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I recently covered Gwinnett County’s annual district spelling bee. A fifth-grader who studies the dictionary and spelling guides won. He said he’s been practicing for months, starting as soon as he gets home from school and keeping at it until he goes to sleep. After winning, the boy’s father encouraged him to take a break. The boy didn’t want to.
It seems as though more and more students are pushing themselves. They stay up past midnight. They take four or five college-level Advanced Placement classes at a time. They strive for straight A’s while playing sports, serving on school clubs and volunteering at church.
Some call these kids high-achievers. Others label them over-achievers.
Where does this increasing pressure to perform come from? Are students getting it from their parents and teachers? Or is it coming from students and their friends?
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