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Politics : Sharks in the Septic Tank -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: The Philosopher who wrote (51476)	6/18/2002 9:25:57 PM
From: Solon	Respond to of 82486

"But to say that they bear the primary responsibiity for motivating the child to learn, I do not agree with." Of course, this was not my point. Parents have the most important role in most cases (although not always the most efficacious). But my points about teachers really do not rely on how well parents perform their responsibilities as caregivers. My point is only that teachers are hired and paid to facilitate the metamorphosis of untutored children into learned adults within the natural limitations of ability. Motivation of children is not an either/or--black and white-rather, it exists on a continuum. The job of the teacher is to teach all--not only those who are most advanced. Although every child will have particular limitations stemming from circumstances of nature and nurture, yet the hope of society is that each and all may be guided to their best efforts through the professionalism of trained individuals. BTW, lack of "motivation" is not a disease condition. It is not a chronic disability. It involves issues of self esteem and meaning. It can be changed by a smile or a sentence of praise. For children with emotional issues, it is essential that certain impediments to learning be overcome. If the parents have failed in this regard, then one hopes that the caregivers of the mornings and the afternoons will be better trained, or more compassionate. If they fail...then society will assume the burden, either in hospitals, or prisons, or welfare lines...