[9급 지방직 영어 2015년 8번]

Making mistakes is central to the education of budding scientists and artists of all kinds, who must have the freedom to experiment, try this idea, flop, try another idea, take a risk, be willing to get the wrong answer. One classic example is Thomas Edison's reply to a reporter who was lamenting Edison's ten thousand experimental failures in his effort to create the first incandescent light bulb. "I have not failed," he told the reporter. "I successfully discovered 10,000 elements that don't work." Most children, however, are denied the freedom to noodle around, experiment, and be wrong in ten ways, let alone ten thousand. The focus on constant testing to measure and standardize children's accomplishments has intensified their fear of failure. It is certainly important for children to learn to succeed; but it is just as important for them to learn not to fear failure.