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Pastimes : Let's Talk About Our Feelings!!! -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Father Terrence who wrote (41454)	6/21/1999 11:23:00 PM
From: Jacques Chitte	Respond to of 108807

I submit that this approach works fine for the highly self-motivated. But for a "normal" kid, some encouragement bears a lot of results. It's a continuum - there is a sliding balance between exacting self-motivation without any "carrot" and practically fluffing pillows under the student's toches. I imagine I fall somewhere between you and our thread hostess in this issue. Some carrot, some stick. The question before us is whether requiring such intense ambition from within is a good thing. Those who pulled themselves up without much close mentorship would naturally prefer this system because it enhances their advantage in a world of limited opportunity. But does this arrive ultimately at a social optimum? That's not so clear-cut. I think encouraging the capable but motivationally malleable students is a GOOD thing. And I do believe "motivational malleability" is real.

To: Father Terrence who wrote (41454)	6/22/1999 1:20:00 AM
From: E	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 108807

The trouble with homilies like <<<If a person wants to learn, nothing will hold them back. >>> is that, true as they often are, other facts (homilies, themselves) limit their applicability. For example, a person can not do what he or she can not imagine himself or herself doing. That's such a little thing. But if you can't imagine yourself learning, and achieving by learning, you won't 'want' to learn. I have no idea how to address this problem. I'm not talking about 'self-esteem' here, or those inane, contentless self-esteem courses.

To: Father Terrence who wrote (41454)	6/22/1999 9:54:00 AM
From: Ilaine	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 108807

Back when Lincoln studied law, there were something like five casebooks and maybe three hornbooks that you had to know to pass the bar. Nothing at all like we have to know today. I know Lincoln was a better lawyer than most, that's not the point. Preparing for the bar by reading law was quite common in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Huey Long is said to be the last person to do it in Louisiana. Virginia still allows it, but the reader must also clerk in a law office while reading law. It's almost impossible to learn really difficult subjects, like constitutional law, federal jurisdiction, or tax, just by reading.