“Maarten, this wasn’t the assignment. You were supposed to make a report and a matching artwork. We explained that to you clearly. Since you didn’t do that, I have no choice but to fail you.”
There I sat, a fourteen-year-old student across from the teacher. Her tone was firm, her words landed. I’d been raised to respect people in authority. She was the adult. The authority. Someone you didn’t just argue with. But my frustration reached the ceiling.
There’s a difference between wanting to and being able to
I thought I’d done well. I’d researched the topic thoroughly, checked whether the sources were legitimate, and written a coherent piece. And yes, the fact that I hadn’t made an artwork was, to me, obvious. Asking someone with cerebral palsy to make an artwork, something that requires fine motor skills, is the same as asking your best friend to help you move house while you know he has a herniated disc. It’s not unwillingness. Not laziness. Not carelessness. You want to, but your body won’t.
What are you actually measuring?
We measure things to make knowledge and competencies tangible. It feels objective and fair. But the real question is: what are you actually measuring? In what way? And for what purpose? Because talent and competencies can’t always be captured in a score, a test, or a specific assignment. It takes a willingness to look further, and to see talent in all its forms.
Want to know how I can help you with that? Here you’ll find more information about my coaching and consultancy services.