During American Idol season 23 Hawaii Week at Disney's Aulani Resort & Spa, the judges--Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan--didn't offer any constructive criticism to the Top 24 contestants, and I'm struggling to understand why they won't do their jobs. During Hawaii Week, the Top 24 contestants performed on the largest stage of the competition so far, after being mentored by either Ashanti or Josh Groban, along with the American Idol season 23 artist-in-residence Jelly Roll. Although the episodes weren't live, it was the first time that viewers could vote for their favorites.

Throughout American Idol season 23 so far, I've noticed that the judges have tended to gush over the contestants' performances without offering much constructive criticism, but I was shocked to see that they didn't give any negative comments at all during Hawaii Week. I was especially surprised that Carrie didn't offer any helpful because she's an alum of the show and surely used the judges' critiques to improve her performances when she was a contestant. As the show moves into its live episodes next week, I believe that this has to change.

The American Idol Season 23 Judges Must Give The Contestants Something To Improve On

It's Too Early In The Competition To Not Give

I feel that Carrie, Lionel, and Luke have done a great disservice to the American Idol season 23 Top 24 contestants by not giving them anything to improve on for their next performances. Now the contestants are under the impression that they've done enough to move on to the next round, when, unfortunately, that won't be the case for four of the contestants. The judges have set the contestants up for disappointment because they gave them all praise, and no criticism. While it's nice to see them building their confidence, some of their critiques were unrealistic.

As I watched the American Idol season 23 Top 24 contestants perform during their two-night event, I saw many things that the judges could've told the contestants to improve on. From outdated song choices, to singing out of their range, to oversinging with too many runs, many of the contestants made questionable choices that probably hurt their chances of moving on in the competition. Some of the Top 24 contestants are teenagers with a lot to learn, but the judges aren't giving them any constructive criticism at all.

None of the American Idol judges pointed out any of the negative things in the contestants' performances to them, which greatly frustrated me. It was an insult to contestants who had truly phenomenal performances because they were given the same kind of as everyone else. No one stood out because Carrie, Lionel, and Luke judged them all the same. Perhaps they were trying not to influence the viewer vote by giving only praise and no criticism, but I think that viewers could use some guidance from experts like them when they're trying to decide which singers had the best performances. Otherwise, American Idol becomes nothing more than a popularity contest.

Even The Best Contestants Need

No One Is Perfect In These Early Performances

As a former teacher, I know that even the most gifted student could benefit from being given suggestions about how to improve. A good student becomes great when they're given guidance about how to do it. When Carrie, Lionel, and Luke use words such as "amazing" and "perfect" to describe performances, they're not being specific enough about what exactly should be repeated from those routines. Even the best singers could benefit from professional advice, even if it's just to let them know what to keep doing or to add something extra special to a performance rather than make an improvement.

The American Idol Judges Should Be Required To Give Specific Positive & Negative

Constructive Criticism Helps The Contestants

In education, teachers are required to give students a "glow" and a "grow" when giving . This means that they receive something positive about their work, as well as something that they could improve upon. Because Carrie, Lionel, and Luke aren't doing this, the American Idol producers should make it a requirement. I think that every contestant should be told something that they can work on for their next performance because it would help everyone to improve.

The American Idol contestants aren't professional singers, so there's no way that they're as perfect as the judges are claiming that they are in their first performances. As I watched the show, I saw so many little changes that they could make that would make their next performances better, but Carrie, Lionel, and Luke didn't seem to pick up on any of them. I couldn't believe how afraid they seemed to give any sort of negative critique to anyone.

American Idol Doesn't Have To Go Back To The Days Of Simon Cowell

The Judges Can Be Critical Without Being Mean

Although I don't want to hear the American Idol judges giving only positive reviews to the contestants, I also never want to return to the days of Simon Cowell, when his insults were normalized and even praised. It's not okay for the judges to tear people down, but they can certainly be critical without being mean. Luke and Lionel have always been soft on the contestants, but I thought that Carrie would appreciate the fact that she could bring kindler and gentler to the contestants after being judge by Simon, and that she'd jump at the chance to help them improve. However, she didn't do that at all during Hawaii Week.

The American Idol Judges Must Actually Judge During The Live Shows

The Judges Must That They Aren't Mentors

When the American Idol live shows begin, the contestants will be under even more pressure, which means that they'll need even more guidance. They already have Jelly Roll and others to be their mentors, so they don't need Carrie, Lionel, and Luke too. I think it's very important for the judges to that they were hired to judge, and not to solely be cheerleaders for the contestants.

I feel that it's almost as though the judges have become too emotionally attached to the contestants because they discovered them, so they don't want to hurt their feelings. It's also possible that they don't want to it that they were wrong about any of the contestants that they chose for the Top 24, so they don't want to give any negative . To me, it seems as if they're patting themselves on the back for choosing the right people for the Top 24 by not giving them any negative . Whatever the reason, they have to do better with judging during the live shows.

I find it incredibly frustrating to watch the American Idol judges gushing over the contestants, and not giving them any negative when it's warranted and needed. When they tell everyone that they're great, then they make everyone equal, and the fact is that some of the contestants are better than others. The ones who need work should be given constructive criticism to help them improve. I think that it's so unfair to make someone think that they're perfect when viewers at home are watching and seeing that they're not. Carrie, Lionel, and Luke must do better at judging during the American Idol live episodes.

American Idol airs Sundays at 8 p.m. EDT on ABC.