This is Jennifer Gonzalez welcoming you to episode 32 of the Cult of Pedagogy Podcast.

In this episode, I'm going to talk about how and why we should let our students fail.

When we see our children, our students, heading in the wrong direction,

our first instinct is to stop them, to protect them from the pain that will inevitably follow from the bad choices they're about to make.

We may try to advise them first, to warn them, to steer them toward a different path,

but if they keep going, what comes next?

Do we rescue them at the last minute?

Do we let them off the hook?

Do we try to get the punishment revoked or get the bad grade changed?

For some parents, the answer to all of those questions is yes and yes and yes.

Stop at nothing to protect our kids from pain.

As teachers, many of us are probably familiar with the parent who begs or threatens to have a grade raised,

who helps with homework using a very heavy hand, and who monitors their child's academic work so closely,

we wonder if the kid even goes to the bathroom by himself.

But teacher and author Jessica Lehi says this approach is wrong,

that protecting our kids from pain and failure ultimately damages them.

Instead, we should be letting them experience the natural consequences of their choices as often as possible,

even if, especially if, these consequences are upsetting.

By letting them fall down, what we ultimately do is help them more quickly find the tools to pull themselves back up.

She explores this concept, which she calls autonomy supportive parenting and teaching.

In her book, The Gift of Failure, how the best parents learn to let go so their children can succeed.

And in this episode, Jessica and I talk more about how we can support students' autonomy at home and in the classroom.

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