You Are The GREATEST

As with many things, hindsight is 20-20; I suppose I could say that I saw it coming but that would be a stretch. Okay, I recall my Washington Park (East St. Louis) elementary teacher giving-out those green, red and gold stars to we rag-tag second graders back in 1946, but who-da thunk it would be a forerunner to today's out-of-control pseudo extrinsic awards giveaways??? Before I delve into this aspect of awards motivation, let's connect the stickers!


My youth experience was two motivation-rails: First, I could always count on my mother for those warm cozy hugs and my father's 'one-sentence charges.' Dad would tell me at the start of a school year, "Boy, pay attention to your teacher and don't cause me to miss work and have to go to the school house."  "If a job is worth doing it's worth doing well."  "Yours is not to reason why yours is but to do or die." "Any thing after mid-night is shallow hours; be home before that." Dad was not big on 'atta boy' praise but he was easy to read when he was pleased and not pleased; therein was enough motivation for me and my younger brother, Tom; you simply wanted to please your parents.


Over the many years teaching, coaching and parenting/grand-parenting, I believe it is fair to say that I have observed youth and 'what' appears to motivate their behavior. We adults have 'conditioned' the youngsters; they need recognition and rewards. We give all kinds of trophies, medals and certificates. In academics, activities and sports; from pre-school through college, we come to expect some award for 'just doing it.' That's right, I DID say college. Just recently, I had a college age grandkid tell me that in one of his college courses, a student can receive extra-credit points, called, 'professional points' if they don't use their cell phone but pay attention to the professor during class. Why back in Ms. Spaheart's Charles L. Manner's third grade class, I probably would have never gotten a paddle-swat for talking in class had the teacher offered 'professional credit-points for 'doing-the-right-thing!'


One other thought: Can you football fans imagine the  Chicago 'Bears' great linebacker, Dick Butkus needing 'stickers' on his helmet.




Thanks for reading my blog without receiving a smiley face.