Summary and Response to "Schools Would be Great if it Weren't For the Kids"

In “Schools Would be Great if it Weren't For the Kids” by Alfie Kohn informs readers that students are not being properly motivated for school because students do not like school, do not work hard, and do not do well. Kohn states that commentators are only looking to prove test scores and not to motivate the students themselves to do better overall. Students are losing interest in school and the stuff they learn because they look forwards to any rewards or avoiding any punishments that they might get in school. Economists say that motivation is only can be if there is a reward, but motivation can come from curiosity and ambition, parental expectations, the desire to get into a ‘good’ college, inspiring or intimidating teachers, and peer pressure. Kohn explains that schooling for some kids is only for working and being kind instead of discovering and learning something new.

“Schools Would be Great if it Weren't For the Kids” by Alfie Kohn is informing readers about the truth in saying critics are only looking to improve America’s education compared to global competition because students are forced to do all their different boring homework every night and do not have many fun, exciting, and motivational classes in the day. If students were more motivated in a curious and ambitious way than test grades would go up either way because students would be more excited to do better and earn better grades. Economists need to realize that bribes and threats for students are counterproductive in helping the student’s futures and test scores. It kills student’s motivation when they are bribed or threatened. They only think of the reward or punishment and not of learning and doing well in school. For example, if you were told if you did not get a good grade on a test than you would have to redo the class next year, then you would be more focused on not having to redo the class instead of attempting to learn more in class and being more interested in what you are learning. Students lose their main focus and goal of learning in school without being properly motivated by educators.

Summary and Response to "What Teachers Really Want to Tell Parents"

Ron Clark's Book The End of Molasses Classes

In “What Teachers Really Want to Tell Parents” by Ron Clark informs parents that teachers are quitting their jobs because parents are being too protective with their children and sometimes cause teachers to lose their jobs. Clark wants parents to know how the teachers feel when the parents ask if their child really did something or if they have an excuse for something. Clark states that some parents will have an excuse for their child not doing an assignment on time. The parent would say that their child needed to have some free time or they were busy even though they had time before that to finish the assignment. Parents need to listen to the teacher so they can work together and fix any dilemmas that they have. Parents need to be partners with the teacher and do what is right to help their child.

Ron Clark

Ron Clark’s “What Teachers Really Want to Tell Parents” is accurate
when he says parents are being over protective because the children need to learn from their mistakes and not be defended for everything they do. Clark writes that parents sometimes bring lawyers to school meetings that are dealing with their child. If parents would help the situation and admit that their child is doing something wrong then it would be a lot easier to find a solution to the problem instead of telling the teacher or thinking the teacher is inaccurate about their son. Teachers are having a hard time not getting in trouble or losing their job for simple human errors or over reacting parents. Clark wrote that he saw on the news that a teacher lost their job for trying to wash permanent marker off a child’s face and caused a red mark to be left behind. The parents got her fired for that simple thing that most teachers would have done. Parents need to ask for both sides of the story before going to conclusions on something their child told them. Children can over exaggerate and make something sound worse or different than it actually was. A child might say that their friend stole his phone but might leave out the fact that they originally stole their friend’s money and the friend wanted to get revenge. Overall, if parents do not assume that their child is perfect or near perfect than their child’s education could be better.