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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

“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

“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

“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

“To be well-educated is to have the desire as well as the means to make sure that learning never ends.”

Wells Mean Ends Desire Educated Well Educated

Book:What Does It Mean to Be Well Educated?: And More Essays on Standards, Grading, and Other Follies

Source: What Does It Mean to Be Well Educated?: And More Essays on Standards, Grading, and Other Follies

“In some suburban schools, the curriculum is chock-full of rigorous A.P. courses and the parking lot glitters with pricey SUVs, but one doesn't have to look hard to find students who are starving themselves, cutting themselves, or medicating themselves, as well students who are taking out their frustrations on those who sit lower on the social food chain.”

Wells Looks Hard School Courses Social Cutting Students Chains Frustration Starving Glitter Curriculum Parking Parking Lot Food Chain Suvs

Author:Alfie Kohn

“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