The Challenge of Writing

Perception is reality.

   Writing is hard work, but teachers make it harder when they impose writing assignments as punishment.
   They may not think of it that way, but when they tell a youth to write 500 words apologizing for what he or she did, explaining why it was wrong to do it and promising never to do it again, it is perceived as punishment.
   Teens being what they are, any attempt at behavior modification through writing assignments is resented, and only hardens the teen's fear of writing.
   Yes, writing is hard work. But so is football, or playing the violin, or doing algebra. Coaches, band instructors and mathematicians don't impose punishments of ten laps around the track, or 30 minutes of scale exercises, or algebra puzzles.
   Rather, they are seen as practice sessions to build proficiency and sharpen skills.
   For teachers, school principals, and especially for juvenile court judges to require essays -- even if they call them educational experiences -- is not only counter productive, but it also heightens resentment against authority and fear of writing.

   Writing is a challenge and, like music and sports, it comes more easily to some than to others.
   People do music and sports because they want to, not because they must.
   Teachers should encourage young folk to rise to a challenge, whether it be sports, music, art, math puzzles -- or writing.