We cannot motivate students; we can only create the conditions in which students can motivate themselves (Chris Wejr, elementary school principal in British Columbia, Canada)
There is an interesting concept and I wonder how many of my teacher-colleagues agree with the statement. The idea that we have the duty to motivate our students is always based on the ’carrots and sticks’ method. In many elementary schools, teachers offer sweets, crayons, and other material rewards to impulse their very young students toward the desired academic goal. At the high school level, we have decided to stop the practice after several years of giving out ‘Walkmans’ and other electronic goodies. The recent budget crunch put a quick end to that cornucopia. Mr. Wejr adds that giving out stuff to students is depriving them of the much prized habit of doing valuable work for its own sake.
jcsprenger
