Children Quote by Michael Morpurgo
“A lot of children, like I did, move away from words because of the fear - which is something you have to take out of education: the fear of worrying about what marks you'll get, detention, worrying about letting people down, your parents, teachers.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: BBC Radio 4, 2015
Students often avoid language tasks due to anxiety about grades, discipline, and disappointing others.
In simple terms: Fear of judgment blocks learning.
Address anxiety to improve engagement.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- classroom writing
- homework
- standardized tests
- parent‑teacher meetings
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can teachers create low‑stakes writing opportunities?
- What support helps students manage performance pressure?
If fear is removed, other barriers like lack of motivation may remain.