[etni] Fw: re: praise
- From: "Ask" <ask@xxxxxxxx>
- To: <etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 9 Jan 2006 06:45:52 +0200
----- Original Message -----
From: Lev Abramov - lev.abramov@xxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: praise
LEV WROTE:
It does not look like food for thought to me - it looks more like
wishful thinking....
Aviva wrote:
Hi Lev, I think you should try praise and not be such
a skeptic. IT is not wishful thinking !!! IT has worked for me
both with kids and adults.EVERYONE likes to get praised
(including ME) and from my experience it's one of the
best ways to change ANY behavior. And why would it spoil
someone to hear something good about himself !!!!
I am not arguing the claim that praise has its place in education. I resent
the way it is used: "Yes, he never brings his books, nor does he ever do his
homework, and besides, his behavior is disruptive - BUT HE IS A GOOD KID,
all in all!"
Pupils should definitely be praised - but praised for achivement. Praised
because they deserve it (in the best Western sense of the word), and not
because "ze magia li" (because they are culturally deprived and economically
challenged). This is what the system lacks. Instead of praising FOR
achievment, we are expected to praise TO STIMULATE achievement.
Am I making sense, or am I talking to myself?
The idea of praising for no apparent reason is weird. We all make our choice
of what to believe in. If you prefer to believe in praise - go for it, and
don't wince when others (I, for example) look at it sarcastically. If you
really believe in it it may even work for you. In some cases. Maybe.
Just one more thing. From the point of view of physiology, praise acts like
a drug: it stimulates the same zone of the brain (the so-called pleasure
center). The body quickly develops an addiction to this type of stimulation.
And when you fail to praise the pupils next time (becuase they see no
connection between their efforts and your praise) they may develop
abstinence syndrome - and then YOU will become the natural target of their
anger. Be prepared.
"By the time they pass the age of fifty, many honest people start having
doubts whether it [being honest] was worth the trouble. I always feel like
shouting to them encouragingly, Keep it up folks. You've only got a few more
years left to suffer, after all!" (Fazil Iskander)
L
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