There is an educational theory out there called error fossilization.  The idea is that the longer a child makes a factual error, the more his brain will embed that error and it will be harder and harder to undo, much as a fossil grows harder and harder over time.  As such, teachers need to be on top of them, ready to correct them at every turn, lest their mistakes become permanent over time.

It’s more of a hypothesis, really.  It’s never been tested.  It’s another one of those educational “theories” that an educator proposes and millions accept without evidence one way or the other.

What have we found at Sudbury schools?  Keep in mind that anecdotal evidence is not scientific proof.  However, we have had students go for years practicing something erroneous, only to be corrected once when they ask and never make that mistake again.  For example, we had a student who misspelled his name on the attendance sheet until one of the staff noted the letter he should be using instead.  After a lengthy time with the misspelling, he needed only one correction to change it.  Which does suggest that error fossilization is not a rational fear.

Yet another reason that Sudbury staff don’t hover over the children, ready to leap and correct them.

​Sean Vivier