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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

“Someone who thinks well of himself is said to have a healthy self-concept and is envied. Someone who thinks well of his country is called a patriot and is applauded. But someone who thinks well of his species is regarded as hopelessly naïve and is dismissed.”

Thinking Wells Said Self Country Healthy Concepts Species Patriot Envied Self Concept

Book:The Brighter Side of Human Nature: Altruism and Empathy in Everyday Life

Source: The Brighter Side of Human Nature: Altruism and Empathy in Everyday Life

“Contrary to what you think, your company will be a lot more productive if you refuse to tolerate competition among your employees.”

Ifs Thinking Company Competition Refuse Contrary Employee Productive Tolerate

Author:Alfie Kohn

“We have so much to cover and so little time to cover it. Howard Gardner refers to curriculum coverage as the single greatest enemy of understanding. Think instead about ideas to be discovered.”

Thinking Littles Ideas Understanding Enemy Coverage Curriculum Little Time

Author:Alfie Kohn

“What is wrong with encouraging students to put "how well they're doing" ahead of "what they're doing." An impressive and growing body of research suggests that this emphasis (1) undermines students' interest in learning, (2) makes failure seem overwhelming, (3) leads students to avoid challenging themselves, (4) reduces the quality of learning, and (5) invites students to think about how smart they are instead of how hard they tried.”

Thinking Wells Hard Body Seems Interest Challenges Quality Growing Students Smart Research Overwhelming Invites Emphasis Impressive

Book:The Schools Our Children Deserve: Moving Beyond Traditional Classrooms and

Source: The Schools Our Children Deserve: Moving Beyond Traditional Classrooms and

“Some who support [more] coercive strategies assume that children will run wild if they are not controlled. However, the children for whom this is true typically turn out to be those accustomed to being controlled— those who are not trusted, given explanations, encouraged to think for themselves, helped to develop and internalize good values, and so on. Control breeds the need for more control, which is used to justify the use of control.”

Source: Punished by Rewards: The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A's, Praise, and Other Bribes