A Tale of Two C’s

I’ve been thinking a lot about aptitude versus experiential learning (experiential learning is learning by examples or brute force learning). I’ll explain what I mean using two examples from my experience teaching algebra 40 years ago (so the kids I’m mentioning will be in their mid-fifties now and probably looking to retirement in the near future).

My algebra classes had homework, of which only some was recorded for a grade, all of which was to be kept in a notebook. At the end of the semester, the notebook would be reviewed by me for an equivalent test grade as to whether the student corrected their mistakes on the homework (my wife and I spent New Year’s Day looking through them as I recall). Besides the grade recorded homework and the notebook, there were occasional tests that made up the rest of their grade.

I had one student, I’ll call him Jack, that sat in the rear of my class, didn’t participate and never did his homework. Normally, you’d think that would lead to a failing grade. The problem was that he took the tests and got high enough grades that he ended the semester (year really) with a C average. Yes, I did call his parent (his mother) and she expressed frustration that even when she inquired about his homework, Jack said he did it and there was nothing she could do (we disagreed on that assessment). Jack was so smart that at the end of the year, he and his mother convinced the principal into placing him in pre-algebra class for his second year of high school math requirement.

The other student, I’ll call him Carl, worked really hard in my class. Carl was also in the FFA (future farmers of America) and a shop class and it was obvious, to me, that doing something outside with his hands was where his passion lay. Unfortunately, in my class, Carl struggled every day. He came in for extra help and I was glad to help him. But whatever,

we tried, he just couldn’t break that C grade level. I remember after the grades went out that I got a call from his father, a prominent lawyer in that small IL town, and got the riot act read to me. You see, from Carl’s father’s perspective, a C grade wasn’t going to ensure his son got into college and became a lawyer like his dad. I restrained myself from asking him if he even knew his son.

Both kids ended my class with a C. Jack had the potential or aptitude to get a far higher grade but squandered the opportunity. Carl didn’t have the aptitude but had the determination to try to get a better grade through hard work (experiential learning) of doing problems and got a passable grade.

We each have gifts God has given us (aptitude) for different things but we need to marry that with the experiential learning to take advantage of it. Conversely, just because one doesn’t have an aptitude for something, doesn’t mean that they can’t see any success in doing it if they are willing to put in the time and effort to succeed.

“In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.” - Proverbs 14:23 ESV

“Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” - James 1:16-18

I’m working to improve my musical ability while knowing that I’m too analytically driven to ever be a professional performer. I asked my music teacher this morning if she thought I’d hit a wall in my ability to improve. She answered that she didn’t know. She acknowledged the lack of a high musical aptitude could present a limit to my ability to

improve but she felt confident that, at my stage, hard work on my part would result in a significant improvement.

“Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.” - Proverbs 13:11

The question I need to keep asking myself is for whom am I playing music for…. the answer is to worship God!

“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!” - Psalm 98:4