R4

Question: How do we help students to forget previous failures and make attempts to be successful where they have previously not been? 

Quotation: “So long as the inhibiting sense of impossibility remains in the child’s mind, he will continue unable to get beyond the obstacle. The aim of the teacher should then be to make him simply forget” (James, 1899, p. 89).

Connection: James discusses the idea of “balky will” (p. 88) in some pupils, which is the idea that children are inhibited to do something they have previously been unsuccessful at.  This was an important topic to discuss because it proposes that a student’s refusal to complete a certain task or assignment at school could potentially have different causes than simply opposition.  This idea sheds light on the importance of examining the function or cause of a child’s behavior, as opposed to assuming that all students that do not complete an assignment simply because they are lazy or do not want to (an often times gross overgeneralization).  Additionally, the advice provided by James concerning the importance of making the student forget their failure emphasizes the incorporation of student success in the classroom.  Allowing students opportunities for success is an important component of a classroom environment (Shinn, Walker, & Stoner, 2002).  Students should have frequent opportunities to complete tasks correctly and to experience the feelings associated with this (e.g., pride and accomplishment). 

Outside Connection: Related to my own learning, I know that I do not like to try things that I have not been successful with.  For example, I hate skiing because the first (and only) time I attempted to ski, I never felt truly comfortable doing it.  Since that first attempt I have refused to ski again.  James would advice that I need to both distract myself from the failure that was my first attempt, as well as to allow enough time to elapse so that I may forget the fact that I did not feel comfortable with it.  This advice conflicts slightly with the old adage of “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” In my experience, the majority of teachers advise students to work at something continuously until they are successful at it.  I think James would advise to yes, try again, but perhaps not immediately.  While I have no personal experience using this approach in my own processes of learning to ski, I am willing to perhaps try again (at a much later date). 

References

Shinn, M. A., Walker, H. M., Stoner, G. (2002). Interventions for Academic and Behavior Problems II: Preventative and Remedial Approaches. Bethesda, MD: National Association of School Psychologist