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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

“Strip away all the assumptions about what competition is supposed to do, all the claims in its behalf that we accept and repeat reflexively. What you have left is the essence of the concept: mutually exclusive goal attainment (MEGA). One person succeeds only if another does not. From this uncluttered perspective, it seems clear right away that something is drastically wrong with such an arrangement. How can we do our best when we are spending our energies trying to make others lose--and fearing that they will make us lose?”

Source: No Contest: The Case Against Competition

“Trying to do well and trying to beat others are two different things. Excellence and victory are conceptually distinct . . . and are experienced differently.”

Trying Wells Two Different Victory Beats Excellence Different Things Two Different Things

Author:Alfie Kohn

“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

“Very few things are as dangerous as a bunch of incentive-driven individuals trying to play it safe.”

Trying Play Individual Risk Dangerous Safe Management Driven Bunch Incentives Risk Management

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

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

“How can we do our best when we are spending our energies trying to make others lose - and fearing that they will make us lose?”

Trying Energy Loses Spending

Book:No Contest: The Case Against Competition

Source: No Contest: The Case Against Competition

“Trying to be number one and trying to do a task well are two different things.”

Trying Wells Two Different Numbers Tasks Different Things Two Different Things

Book:No Contest: The Case Against Competition

Source: No Contest: The Case Against Competition