The Courage to Try – Why ‘Failure’ Is an Essential Part of Learning
“These things happen – and that’s why pencils have erasers.”
It’s a phrase I find myself saying often. Not because mistakes are rare, but because they’re everywhere. And that’s exactly the point.
In classrooms, on the playground, in life – failure isn’t the opposite of success. It’s part of it.
Why Failure Deserves a Rebrand
Somewhere along the way, children (and let’s be honest, we) start to believe that mistakes are something to avoid. That getting it wrong means you’re not smart enough, not talented enough, not something enough.
But here’s the truth : no one ever mastered anything without failing first.
- That author you love? Rejected a dozen times.
- That athlete you admire? Missed more goals than they scored.
- That inventor? Burned through thousands of prototypes before hitting gold.
Mistakes aren’t detours. They’re the road.
What Happens When We Normalise Failure?
When learners realise that failure isn’t fatal, something amazing happens :
- They take more risks
They raise their hands, try new things, and step outside their comfort zones. - They build resilience
Instead of crumbling after a setback, they think, “Okay, what’s next?” - They grow in confidence
Not because they always succeed, but because they learn they don’t have to.
How We Teach ‘The Courage to Try’ at Lobethal Lutheran School
Famously, Apple employees say “Woohoo!” when someone makes a mistake, celebrating it as a learning opportunity. Here at Lobethal Lutheran School, we take that a step further. Through our ‘MindBlown’ wellbeing program and ‘Beyond’ Outdoor Learning, we explicitly teach that mistakes aren’t setbacks – they’re stepping stones.
Mistakes aren’t something to be hidden or feared; they’re signs that we’re pushing boundaries, trying new things, and stepping outside our comfort zones. In fact, we believe that if you’re not making mistakes, you’re probably not learning anything new.
Through MindBlown and Beyond, we don’t just accept mistakes – we celebrate them. Because courage isn’t about always getting it right.
It’s about having the confidence to try, fail, learn, and try again.
Embracing failure as a natural part of learning cultivates a growth mindset among our learners, fostering resilience, creativity, and the belief that every setback is just another step forward.
Think about it:
- Babies don’t quit learning to walk because they fall.
- Kids don’t give up on talking because they stumble over words.
But somewhere between kindy and adulthood, we start believing that mistakes are embarrassing instead of essential.
Let’s change that.
Let’s develop learners who aren’t afraid to try, to fall, to get back up, and to try again.
Because at the end of the day—these things happen.
And that’s why pencils have erasers. ✏️
FromtheForest 
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