Programs to raise self-esteem fall woefully short

, The Wall Street Journal (via the SF Chronicle) ^ | 04/18/03 | SHARON BEGLEY

[MikalM]

AT THE ANNUAL meeting of psychology researchers in Boston three years ago, two scientists weighed in on a question that seemed to be as much in need of investigation as whether the sun rises in the east.

The pair had asked a professor to send weekly e-mail messages to students of his who had done poorly on their first exam for the class. Each missive included a review question. In addition, one-third of the students, chosen at random, also received a message -- advice to study, for example -- suggesting that how well they did in the course was under their own control. The other third received the review question plus a "You're too smart to get a D!" pep talk aimed at raising their self-esteem, which everyone knows boosts academic performance.

[chiller]

BBBWWWWAAAHAHAHAHAHHAAAA....why am I laughing?

How will the libs deal with this? Delicious!

great post

[Billthedrill]

Dang it, that makes me feel bad. Guess I gotto go sharpen this here fire axe. I'll show them all...

[expatpat]

How will they deal with it? By ignoring it and pretending it doesn't exist, of course.

[Mark was here]

This is what the Detroit Free Press says about students who do not preform...

"But no matter how and where academic failure occurs, the children should not be made to share the blame or even feel the responsibility. Their poor test scores represent a failure for everyone in this state. "

[goodnesswins]

THAT is SO sad.....they are dooming those kids to failure. Kinda like the dems who keep as many as they can on the PLANTATION!

[Wilhelm Tell]

Children know when they are being lied to. Small wonder that the children did best who were given practical advise and told that they were in control of whether they passed or failed. No surprise that the children who were given a patronizing pep-talk didn't do as well. The duller children are unmotivated by pep-talk, and the brighter children are alienated by it. Children need to be encouraged to think. They need an intelligent mixture of freedom and boundaries. They need to be taught that their choices have consequences. Teach them to treat others with respect and they will have all the "self-esteem" they will ever need. Most of all, children need to know that the adults they encounter (teachers, parents) are trustworthy. Most children know when they are being told the truth and when they are being told patronizing lies. Any system based on gimmicks and manipulation will fail. Much of what we have done to children in the name of progressivism is just plain evil.

[RLK]

In years to come, if we ever return to any level of honesty, it will be found there are instinsic differences in people's ability. Raising people's self esteem when they have low ability doesn't work.

[Search4Truth]

I'm having a panic attack!

[Thorondir]

Those who do not EARN self-esteem do not deserve self-esteem, nor can they be given it by any artificial means. Liberals are just inane, disordered people who destroy everything they touch.

'nuf said.

[seams2me]

Positive self esteem can only come from experiencing success through working toward a goal.

That's it.

Talk all you want, it don't work, you goofballs.....

[LiteKeeper]

"told-ya-so" bump

[powderhorn]

The benefits of self-esteem programs depends on whether you are arguing for apples or for oranges.

A compulsive perfectionist who feels worthless if he falls short of absolute perfection might reasonably benefit by accepting a lower standard for achievement.

A person who is suffering from low self-esteem because of marital problems that are also having an effect on his work or school performance may also benefit from a self-esteem building program.

But of course, any self-esteem building program should be balanced against realistic goals.