Is Determination Important in School, in Life, In Organizations?

I recently came across this great video clip of the movie "Facing the Giants". You won't regret taking a few minutes to watch the video ... it is a great example of persistance and determination.

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We had our Parent-Teacher conferences this week, and a parent asked me "why do you have the motivational posters in the boys toilets?".

Well, I put the posters in the toilets because students are "captive viewers", and it is pretty hard to ignore them :)

I put the posters up because they happen to be true - like this quote by Vince Lombardi "The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will."

In school, we see the students who have the "ability", but not the determination or persistence. Then we see the students with more motivation than ability, and amazingly enough - success comes down to determination and persistence than just ability. It has been my experience that an average student with dogged determination, persistence, and good habits does better than the brilliant student who has little motivation or determination.

What are your thoughts? What do you think is more important - ability or determination?

Be sure to watch the video!

AND MORE ON ATTENDANCE!

(please also read the main article on attendance further below in this blog)

Attendance related items continue to take up a lot of time. I have inserted below a recent email from a parent who I feel isn't on the same page as I am with regards to the importance of attendance.

PARENT EMAIL -

Dear Mr. Mark McCallum!

My name’s PARENT NAME; STUDENT’s mother. I want to let school know that he will not able to come to school on DATE. We have bought air ticket for him to go back TO COUNTRY during the holiday. Because of airline’s schedule, he can’t make it. I wish the school can understand the situation. He will catch the flight at 10 am.
Thank you so much!

MY REPLY (Perhaps too direct?)

Dear PARENT,

Please excuse my directness, however, this is a regular occurrence for STUDENT. I am concerned what message it sets to students when parents let them depart from school a day early to start their vacation early.

If you or your husband requested to start your holidays early from your employer (or an employee requested an extra day leave to catch flights) I would imagine that it would not be possible. We are trying to instill a sense of responsibility with our students, a sense that school IS important, and that students shouldn’t miss school due to (a) better flight schedules or (b) poor planning to book flights.

Again, please excuse my frankness and directness. I only want the best for STUDENT, and do not believe that the best for him is allowing him to miss school to start holidays earlier or to catch flights.

I have written my thoughts about students missing school and attendance in newsletters and other mailings. You can also read my thoughts on my Blog, by visiting http://isshighschool.blogspot.com/.

Sincerely,

Mark McCallum

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Parents and students - I'd like to know your thoughts on the issue - should the school just turn a 'blind eye' and let students start their vacations early? What do you think? Does it really matter if students miss days of school?