The fear of failure at school is almost extinct. There is no longer the drive to do the best a student can. A student who puts in the hard work necessary to learn and thrive in school is disappearing. Hard work, commitment, priorities and responsibility are just some of the concepts that are lost among today's youth. There is no drive to do your best when no one really expects it. Unfortunately, the only ones deceived in the new global epidemic of "everyone passes" are young people. The new American generation is passed over, grade by grade, without actually gaining the knowledge needed to thrive in life. Fortunately, there are those people out there who don't want to sit back and watch American students get a diploma that teeters on the edge of meaninglessness. Mary Sherry, author of “In Praise of the “F” Word,” talks about the long-forgotten concept of student failure. Sherry teaches an adult remedial class and sees students each semester who, unfortunately, have not acquired the knowledge needed in school to successfully continue their education beyond high school. Sherry also tells the story of her son's experience in high school with a teacher who refused to let the slightest pass as so many other teachers would. Sherry's words are encouraging for the future, because she accepted the rules of an educator even if it could hurt her child, which many parents would not do. Sherry realized that while she wanted to protect her family from negative experiences, the fear of failure would give her son a better future. The threat of failure must be real to inspire the student. Jacob Neusner's essay, “The Speech Graduates Didn't Hear,” is a great example of false threats and has...... middle of paper......knowledge compared to their peers and will convey their lack of desire for their children's education. The cycle will continue unless something is established to stop it. Education must become the first priority for students, teachers and parents. Teachers should not be afraid of failure and students who have not shown significant growth within their classroom. Parents should not intervene when a teacher disappoints a child due to embarrassment or pride. Ultimately, students must make education the most important part of their lives. Learning must come before fun which, unfortunately, seems like a foreign concept to most young people today. There is much more to gain from a proper education than just how to solve algebraic equations. When will we ever use this information in the real world? The answer to this question is simple, everyday.