Comments on: What’s it all about, Alfie? http://www.joannejacobs.com/2009/02/whats-it-all-about-alfie-2/ Thinking and Linking by Joanne Jacobs Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:51:22 +0000 hourly 1 By: Richard Colvin http://www.joannejacobs.com/2009/02/whats-it-all-about-alfie-2/#comment-43740 Richard Colvin Thu, 05 Feb 2009 05:54:17 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=7498#comment-43740 I was doing a profile of Kohn back in 2000 for the Los Angeles Times and while we were together we saw a billboard that had a picture of a kid with a text that said only "Challenge Me!" He was repulsed. I met him in a hotel sports bar for an interview and he came in looking like he'd entered a strange, scary world. He told me he'd never been in a sports bar before. I was not surprised, given his revulsion at competition. I was doing a profile of Kohn back in 2000 for the Los Angeles Times and while we were together we saw a billboard that had a picture of a kid with a text that said only “Challenge Me!” He was repulsed. I met him in a hotel sports bar for an interview and he came in looking like he’d entered a strange, scary world. He told me he’d never been in a sports bar before. I was not surprised, given his revulsion at competition.

]]> By: Ms Cornelius http://www.joannejacobs.com/2009/02/whats-it-all-about-alfie-2/#comment-43739 Ms Cornelius Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:11:28 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=7498#comment-43739 Well, the whole premise of the self-esteem movement was completely backward-- achievement creates regard for one's abilities-- jeez, I can't even say the s-e word, it's been overused that much! All that did occur was that kids began to think that they never had to improve and that they were wonderful just the way they were. Any feedback suggesting change was decried as damaging to their fragile self-concept. As for Mr. Kohn, his main emphasis seems to be to garner attention for himself, not to try to be factually accurate or persuasive. Well, the whole premise of the self-esteem movement was completely backward– achievement creates regard for one’s abilities– jeez, I can’t even say the s-e word, it’s been overused that much!

All that did occur was that kids began to think that they never had to improve and that they were wonderful just the way they were. Any feedback suggesting change was decried as damaging to their fragile self-concept.

As for Mr. Kohn, his main emphasis seems to be to garner attention for himself, not to try to be factually accurate or persuasive.

]]> By: Dan Willingham http://www.joannejacobs.com/2009/02/whats-it-all-about-alfie-2/#comment-43738 Dan Willingham Wed, 04 Feb 2009 21:30:36 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=7498#comment-43738 <i>I think Kohn’s critique of praise was necessary at the time to prick the self-esteem bubble.</i> I disagree with this logic--basically, that inaccuracies might be acceptable if it gets teachers, administrators, or parents to do the right thing. I've heard it frequently about learning styles--"It gets teachers to present material in different ways, so what's the harm?" I think it's important to present the best summary/interpretation of the data that you can, then try to persuade people that your interpretation and the actions that you recommend make sense. I cannot justify overstating the case in order to persuade people. I think Kohn’s critique of praise was necessary at the time to prick the self-esteem bubble.

I disagree with this logic–basically, that inaccuracies might be acceptable if it gets teachers, administrators, or parents to do the right thing. I’ve heard it frequently about learning styles–”It gets teachers to present material in different ways, so what’s the harm?”

I think it’s important to present the best summary/interpretation of the data that you can, then try to persuade people that your interpretation and the actions that you recommend make sense. I cannot justify overstating the case in order to persuade people.

]]> By: Rob http://www.joannejacobs.com/2009/02/whats-it-all-about-alfie-2/#comment-43737 Rob Wed, 04 Feb 2009 19:45:19 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=7498#comment-43737 Yeah, I accidentally picked up one of Mr Kohn's books a few years ago. It was a mess. My review is here: http://roborant.info/main.do?entry=1165 My conclusion: "For me, the book wasn't worth the free shipping." Yeah, I accidentally picked up one of Mr Kohn’s books a few years ago. It was a mess. My review is here:

http://roborant.info/main.do?entry=1165

My conclusion: “For me, the book wasn’t worth the free shipping.”

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