When we talk about doing group work with our students, there's an important concept we try to get them to understand:"None of us has all of the skills. All of us have some of the skills."
It's the foundation for understanding multiple abilities orientations, this acknowledgment that while none of the kids is perfect at everything, all of the kids have something to contribute.
I recently had the opportunity to go to brunch and enjoy a lazy afternoon hanging out with Lady M. We were talking about a variety of people we know and situations they are / have been in over the past year or so. And she said something about how pretty much all situations are more complicated than people realize, and it's never quite as cut-and-dry when it comes to who's at fault as people think. I completely agree, and I've known it to be true from personal experience as well. And so I said, thinking of the aforementioned concept:
"None of us has all of the blame. All of us have some of the blame."
In all the situations I can think of in my own life, at least, it's completely true. And probably something more people need to keep in mind more often when faulting others.
9 comments:
Someone once said to me, "Be careful about pointing fingers, because when you point one finger at someone else, there are four fingers pointing back at you."
Regardless of the triteness of those words, it's true, and something I try to remember.
In truth we are each responsible to all for all, it's only that men don't know this.
Excellent advice. It also goes with that old adage that if three people call you an asshole in one day...maybe it's because you are one.
I like that statement!!! Your words are indeed words to remember. Very insightful. I laughed very hard at mom101's comment. I've known a few and I'm pretty sure I was one of three on more than one occasion.
I don't always succeed, but I try to avoid the Blame Game whenever possible. Nobody wins. Everyone loses.
thank you. i needed to read that, i think.
Lara that is very true. I like it.
Mom101 - that's freaking hiliarious! I'm so gonna use that line:)
sassy - yep, that's a true one, too. i remember hearing that when i was a child, and i still think of it sometimes.
markel - true. and well said.
mom101 - you apparently cracked up half the following commenters. so good job with that!
mom - yeah, i'm pretty sure i've been one of three, too. lots of times.
california teacher guy - it's so true, and yet i'm still so bad at avoiding the game. why is that?
anonymous - i don't know who you are or what your situation is, but if it helped you, then i'm glad you read it. if you need reminders, it'll be there whenever you need to reread it.
jo - glad to see you back. :) thanks for the comment, as always.
Oops, I should have made it clear that I was quoting Markel's comments reported by Father Zosima and translated by Constance Garrett in Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov.
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