This Friday, Dr. Shanon Brooks will be speaking in Indio, CA., on principles that are timely and much needed regarding our country and our responsibility to it. Won’t you join us? Admission is free. For details, click here.
Today, Tim Driver continues on the topics of self esteem and entitlement. He refers to yet another article that is a current news piece, which you will find beneficial. ~ TommyMom
On Monday I referred to a study that showed kids have overdosed on self-esteem.
My criticism is not about self-esteem specifically…
just self-esteem that is not based on anything worth feeling pride about.
Self-esteem has replaced some other terms that are more accurate and specific.
Terms like self-respect, dignity, and self-pride (the right kind) have all but been replaced.
Instead it seems to be more about self-promotion, self-importance, and selfishness, whether one has earned respect or not.
This article summarizes many of the issues our society keeps perpetuating.
If you don’t want to look at it right now, allow me to summarize.
A high school in New Jersey is paying 66 kids $100 each to attend school for the first 3 weeks.
Wow.
Here are just a few of the things that come to mind…
and trust me, they have come to the minds of the kids as well!
What happens when you take the money away?
School is not worth attending for the merits of knowledge…
so we have to bribe kids to go.
What about the kids who have had perfect attendance for years, but are not part of the chosen 66?
What levels of resentment will kids have toward those 66?
What other things could that 6600 dollars have gone toward buying?
What level of expectation/entitlement does this set for future semesters, and classes of kids?
These are just a few of the things that come to mind.
Philosophically, this is an absolute train wreck.
Bribery does not work on at-risk personalities.
It doesn’t work on many other personality types either.
It’s insulting.
It takes the dignity, pride, and effort components completely away from the learning and life process.
These sorts of messages are why citizens feel the government owes them.
As I mentioned Wednesday, it creates an atmosphere of dependency, rather than independence.
Last time I checked…
our founding document was not the Declaration of DEPENDENCE.
I have decided that a book of some sort is in order for ways bring back the proper educational priorities.
In the meantime…
I can say that TJED offers a path for kids to reach self-reliance and independent thought and action.
Bravo.
I was not paid for this endorsement! :0)
Best
Tim
So is it just me or does that seem like the dumbest idea ever for one thing let’s look at the message it sends “do poorly, skip school and get rewarded for doing what you should have done in the first place.” Next lets get a group of students who have shown no ability to follow through, be accountable and lets pay them up front for a commitment they expect them to keep all year long. Can we all say ‘sucker’. I disagree with both the principal and ICE T coordinator/organizer that they are not bribing students to attend school dress it up and call it by a cute, hip acronym it is still a BRIBE to do what they should be doing already.
As I have said before I work/volunteer with youth soccer in my community and the sense of entitlement and lack of responsibility that both the parents and players exhibit is troubling. I watch coaches tolerate and reward players with bad attitudes and poor sportsmanship because they can score goals. They ignore the faults, the lack of effort they put into practice, the disruption they bring to a team with their attitudes all because they can bring victory to a coach. Sadly much like this program the other players are sacrificed they learn that it is glory not athleticism, hard work, good attitude, and team play that gets you respect from your coach. We are suffering through a season of this and it is a challenge to our family.
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Tim Reply:
September 15th, 2011 at 8:12 am
Heather, go to http://www.proactivecoaching.info and look at the “Parents Role In Athletics” and “Life Lessons for Athletes” booklets…… 5 bucks each and it will be the best 10 bucks your sanity ever spent!
Best,
Tim
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