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Alfie Kohn

Alfie Kohn Quotes

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Alfie Kohn is a renowned author and educational critic, known for his research on educational psychology and human behavior. His work often explores the power dynamics in education, evaluation systems, and how to create more meaningful learning environments. Born on October 15, 1957, Kohn's career includes educational research and writing, and his books, such as 'Punishment by Myth' and 'The Case Against Reward', have had a profound impact on educational practice and theory.

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All Ifs Children Students School Rewards People Wells Helping Parenting Punishment Should Trying Different Needs Teacher Thinking Way Education Feels Grows

Famous Alfie Kohn Quotes

“If rewards do not work, what does? I recommend that employers pay workers well and fairly and then do everything possible to help them forget about money. A preoccupation with money distracts everyone - employers and employees - from the issues that really matter.”

Ifs Wells Doe Matter Helping Forget Pay Issues Rewards Workers Financial Employee Employers Preoccupation

Author:Alfie Kohn

“If unconditional love and genuine enthusiasm are present, praise isn't necessary. If they're absent, praise won't help.”

Ifs Helping Praise Genuine Enthusiasm Unconditional Love Unconditional Absent

Author:Alfie Kohn

“In short, with each of the thousand-and-one problems that present themselves in family life, our choice is between controlling and teaching, between creating an atmosphere of distrust and one of trust, between setting an example of power and helping children to learn responsibility, between quick-fix parenting and the kind that's focused on long-term goals.”

Source: Unconditional Parenting: Moving from Rewards and Punishments to Love and Reason

“Those who know they're valued irrespective of their accomplishments often end up accomplishing quite a lot. It's the experience of being accepted without conditions that helps people develop a healthy confidence in themselves, a belief that it's safe to take risks and try new things.”

People Knows Trying Ends Helping Belief Risk Conditions Healthy Safe Accepted Accomplishment New Things Being Accepted

Book:Feel-bad Education: And Other Contrarian Essays on Children and Schooling

Source: Feel-bad Education: And Other Contrarian Essays on Children and Schooling

“If I offered you a thousand dollars to take off your shoes, you'd very likely accept--and then I could triumphantly announce that 'rewards work.' But as with punishments, they can never help someone develop a *commitment* to a task or action, a reason to keep doing it when there's no longer a payoff.”

Ifs Reason Helping Action Accepting Thousand Commitment Tasks Dollars Rewards Shoes Punishment Payoff

Book:Unconditional Parenting: Moving from Rewards and Punishments to Love and Reason

Source: Unconditional Parenting: Moving from Rewards and Punishments to Love and Reason

“Each time I visit such a classroom, where the teacher is more interested in creating a democratic community than in maintaining her position of authority, I’m convinced all over again that moving away from consequences and rewards isn’t just realistic - it’s the best way to help kids grow into good learners and good people.”