>-> elements real self-esteem is made of."  She urges schools to
  >-> return to high standards and expectations, reclaim back-to-basics
  >-> teaching and encourage accountability among students, without
  >-> neglecting each child's needs and concerns as individuals.
There is nothing wrong with high standards etc. but the key line here is
the last one IMHO.
  >->    She suggests a three-part strategy:  build the relationship
  >-> between a teacher or parent and a child on respect for the
  >-> child's inborn strengths; help the child set goals and then link
  >-> sustained effort with success; and examine the values you are
  >-> promoting, because self-esteem is grounded on what a person
  >-> values.
I like the middle part here. It's effort that counts as far as I am
concerned. I always encourage my students to try something, to take a
risk and am quick to reward those efforts with a mental or verbal pat on
the back. Remember I am mainly talking about younger children here. Not
to say that this doesn't work for the older ones, but that younger ones,
that are learning all the basic concepts that everything else is built
upon, need to be encouraged so that they will become life long learners.
  >->    However, the most important "remedy" for Shokraii is to
  >-> reintroduce parents in the education of their children.  "Parents
  >-> supersede teachers at building earned elf-esteem in their
  >-> children through the special caring and positive/negative
  >-> reinforcement that can only come with individualized interaction at
  >-> home."
And again a crucial point. If school and learning is valued at home our
work is half done.....
                        - Ruth
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 þ QMPro 1.53 þ Great thoughts reduced to practice become great acts!
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