Re: Work, Play and Alfie Kohn

["Claudia Ayers" <cayers@aptoshs.net>]

My world went 180 after reading Alfie's Punished by Rewards....the CRAP that 
is taught in all too many "method's" classes about incentives...oh my gosh!

I remembered the thrill my mom had when she discovered Thomas Gordon and his 
Parent Effectiveness Training (PET) ....finally a way to communicate with, 
understand, and improve relations with my ADD brother (and with all other 
kids as well). Later (when I had my own kids), I learned, by watching the 
other parents, how rewards don't do much of a job in the long run if you use 
them to "train" your children. Children learn on their own by figuring 
things out .....they learn best with the guidance of people who understand, 
listen and council them.

Alfie is on to Gordon, on to Carl Rogers (who was Gordon's teacher), and is 
completely aware of all the research that backs up the discoveries of these 
two great thinkers. Alfie has written so many fantastic articles & books 
that puncture the backward thinking of pop psychology (like incentives, 
accountability, raising the bar, and now, homework). I think he is this 
generation's John Dewey. As good as he is in print....he is even more 
inspiring in person....GO hear him speak...you will not be the same person 
again afterwards.

I found this list-serve because of my interest in the work and concerns of 
Alfie Kohn. He is not my only "teacher," but high on the list.

all the best, fellow travelers...

claudia in sunny santa cruz