tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21843852.post4532788725308251516..comments2024-01-04T05:57:26.735-06:00Comments on Education Policy Blog: Hosted by the Forum on the Future of Public Education: I'm OK--You Have Self-EsteemCraig A. Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18160288758906798678noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21843852.post-22184520412205820762010-02-13T08:28:50.308-06:002010-02-13T08:28:50.308-06:00You nailed it, Nancy, to describe this challenge a...You nailed it, Nancy, to describe this challenge and support issue as a balancing act. One can't learn anything without challenge (since learning simply is a disruption/interruption of taken for granted understandings and habits), but too much challenge promptly throws kids into flight or paralysis. I think I would go further to say that we need both more challenge and more support in schools (but of course it's still a balancing act.)<br /><br />Now, the frustrated athletic coach types who are pushing hyper-competitive systems as a school reform panacea want to stimulate a certain kind of "fight" but they don't understand that human beings are not infinitely elastic. <br /><br />The "self-esteem lobby" is on to something but repeating "I am lovable and capable" is not a substitute for actually being lovable and capable. So the latter has to be our target. Competence and a realistic sense of self ground durable self-esteem.<br /><br />Note the fight, flight and paralysis behaviors mentioned above. We're actually messing with fear here. Or rather, we are provoking the uncertainty and discomfort that are bound to arise when new challenges come down the pike. As teachers, we have to uncover and acknowledge that predictable discomfort -- as carefully as we consider other aspects of learning -- and work to insure that the discomfort/energy we need for learning doesn't transform itself into fearful behaviors that prevent the very engagement with ideas and others that are foundational to any kind of growth.Barbara Stengelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00750720938489052189noreply@blogger.com