Teaching vs punishment
I am not surprised that many of the children attending college are having a difficult time taking the dangers of covid-19 seriously. This is the same group that overdrinks, has risky sex, often put off doing assignment until the last minute and knows that they are invincible. We live in a time in history which has allowed many of we parents to keep her children from having to face many of adult challenges until they are through college and graduate school. Of course, this is not true for all children, but certainly is true for many of those who are fortunate enough to be in college.
I do, however, expect or at least hope we adults can be more accountable for our actions and take responsibility for our ongoing teaching role with these older children.
Recently in our local newspaper there was an editorial espousing punishment for those college students who are acting invincible and putting themselves and others at risk. Recommendations included expelling them from college and even possibly putting them in jail. He quoted the Dean of Students of West Virginia University as saying those who disregarded recommendations and risked the health of themselves and others “Their flagrant disregard for the health and safety of their classmates, our campus and the entire Morgantown community will not be tolerated.” (quoted in an editorial in The Intelligence-Wheeling New Register,Septemver 9, 2020)
I agree that their youthful inability to consider how their behavior affects others needs to be lovingly addressed. West Virginia University is, after all, a teaching institution. I would hope that the staff of all universities and colleges know their job to help educate students in learning those skills in which will help to ensure that they will do their job in creating a compassionate and just society. I am sure they are teaching students problem solving involves accurate diagnosis and effective, science driven solutions and not emotional responses which merely address symptoms.
I suggest that all of us, but especially those who purport to be educators, focus on teaching our young people that all of our decisions affects a great number of people. We know punishment will not lead to long term changes in thinking and behavior. I believe we can provide students the opportunity to care for those who have suffered because of the lack of awareness or lack of playing the tape through to consider how one seemingly personal behavior affects a great number of people. If our educational institutions do not believe in the value or possibility of education I suggest they permanently close their doors.
Written September 10, 2020
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
I am not surprised that many of the children attending college are having a difficult time taking the dangers of covid-19 seriously. This is the same group that overdrinks, has risky sex, often put off doing assignment until the last minute and knows that they are invincible. We live in a time in history which has allowed many of we parents to keep her children from having to face many of adult challenges until they are through college and graduate school. Of course, this is not true for all children, but certainly is true for many of those who are fortunate enough to be in college.
I do, however, expect or at least hope we adults can be more accountable for our actions and take responsibility for our ongoing teaching role with these older children.
Recently in our local newspaper there was an editorial espousing punishment for those college students who are acting invincible and putting themselves and others at risk. Recommendations included expelling them from college and even possibly putting them in jail. He quoted the Dean of Students of West Virginia University as saying those who disregarded recommendations and risked the health of themselves and others “Their flagrant disregard for the health and safety of their classmates, our campus and the entire Morgantown community will not be tolerated.” (quoted in an editorial in The Intelligence-Wheeling New Register,Septemver 9, 2020)
I agree that their youthful inability to consider how their behavior affects others needs to be lovingly addressed. West Virginia University is, after all, a teaching institution. I would hope that the staff of all universities and colleges know their job to help educate students in learning those skills in which will help to ensure that they will do their job in creating a compassionate and just society. I am sure they are teaching students problem solving involves accurate diagnosis and effective, science driven solutions and not emotional responses which merely address symptoms.
I suggest that all of us, but especially those who purport to be educators, focus on teaching our young people that all of our decisions affects a great number of people. We know punishment will not lead to long term changes in thinking and behavior. I believe we can provide students the opportunity to care for those who have suffered because of the lack of awareness or lack of playing the tape through to consider how one seemingly personal behavior affects a great number of people. If our educational institutions do not believe in the value or possibility of education I suggest they permanently close their doors.
Written September 10, 2020
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
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