We live in a world full of unique difficulties, but one of the greatest challenges facing

many high school students stems from within themselves. Easily the most widespread epidemic

in high schools is that of students not taking accountability for their own learning. “My classes

are too hard!” they cry. “My teacher doesn’t teach me anything! How can you expect me to do

well?”

It comes down to this: students are responsible for their own education. It is not the

teacher’s job to force material down unwilling students’ throats or curve tests so that even the

laziest student passes. If students want to do well, they have to take initiative. They need to go to

class with willing attitudes and open minds. They need to study effectively. Some classes may be

ridiculously hard, but anyone can pass if they put in the required effort.

Writer and producer J. Michael Straczynski said, “People spend too much time finding

other people to blame, too much energy finding excuses for not being what they are capable of

being, and not enough energy putting themselves on the line, growing out of the past, and getting

on with their lives.” Students blame teachers, parents, and other commitments for not doing well,

but they would be better off if they took responsibility for the classes they chose to take and the

activities to which they committed themselves.

When students procrastinate assignments and then blame teachers for assigning too much

homework, whose fault is it really? Choosing to watch Netflix before doing homework is not a

teacher’s fault.

Psychologist Julian Rotter was famous for his idea of locus of control in the 1960s,

examining how much control people believe they have over their lives. Changingminds.org

states, “People with a high internal locus of control believe in their own ability to control

themselves and influence the world around them. They see their future as being in their own

Diseased Accountability Hannah White, Motherlode

hands and that their own choices lead to success or failure. . . . Their belief in their ability to

change things may well make them more confident . . . They will also likely be more motivated

and success-oriented.” We need more students with a high internal locus of control. If students

want to be successful, they need to realize that their future is up to them, as are most things in

their lives.

It is long past time for students to take control of their own lives. Placing all the blame on

a teacher or difficulty of a class only creates a bigger problem that extends beyond high school.

These students will move into careers and try to whine their way to the top, playing the victim

until they die.

This is no easy problem to fix. It comes down to the individual student to make a decision

to take the control he/she has in life. If students simply own up to their responsibilities, they will

be better off in college and the future.