7th Point Power and Freedom
The 7th feature of an ideal learning place is power and freedom. Glasser says that power and freedom is needed for each student. If they don't feel power they will sometimes be naughty to get power. http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-fetch-msg.tcl?msgis a good website that discusses power and freedom. Power and freedom is a basic human need and according to Glasser the classroom is where our basic needs should be met.
The Need for Power
This is the most misunderstood of the psychological needs because we tend to think of power in a negative sense, as power over other people. The power that Dr. Glasser is talking about is a personal power, a sense of self-worth that comes from accomplishment and recognition.
The need for power is also the need to feel that we are in control of our own lives. When you give students orders or commands, you frustrate their need for power. When you give them choices, you satisfy their need for power and give them a feeling that they are responsible enough to have control over their own behavior.
When you praise students for the things they do well, when you recognize their accomplishments, you are satisfying their need for power. When students feel powerless, they attempt to satisfy this need by exerting power over others by bullying, acting out in class or disobeying rules (showing they are more powerful than the person who set the rules).
Teachers most often frustrate their students' need for power when they continually criticize or belittle them, saying things like: "You never can do anything right." "I never had this problem with your sister." "Why can't you behave like Johnny?" "You are a real disappointment to me." These types of statements chip away at children's self-worth, frustrate their need for power, and in the end cause more problems.
There is one simple thing all teachers can do to help their students meet this need. At least once every day, every single day, pay every student a compliment. You will be surprised at the impact this can have.
4. The Need for Freedom
This is the need for the freedom to choose how we live our lives, to express ourselves freely, and to be free from the control of others. We are fortunate to live in a society with considerable freedom, and we are free to make countless choices every day.
Helping children satisfy this need does not mean giving them the freedom to do whatever they want to do. When we talk about helping students learn about responsibility, we are talking about giving them the freedom to choose. For instance, consider the following statement by a teacher to a child: "If you do not do your work, you are not going to go to recess." Now, compare that statement to this one: "Of course, you can go to recess if your work is done. It is your choice."
We can accomplish the same thing, making sure work is completed, with either a threat or the offer of a choice. A threat frustrates the children's need for power and does nothing to meet their need for freedom. Offering a choice meets both their needs for power and freedom and teaches them about responsibility--it is their choice.
5. The Need for Fun
I look at the psychological need for fun as the ultimate, positive diversion. When you are having fun, you are very happy. You are so happy that whatever cares or concerns you might have melt into the background. When we are having fun, we relax, recharge our batteries and enjoy a much-needed relief from the pressures that surround us. http://everything2.com/index.pl
http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1222239
The Need for Power
This is the most misunderstood of the psychological needs because we tend to think of power in a negative sense, as power over other people. The power that Dr. Glasser is talking about is a personal power, a sense of self-worth that comes from accomplishment and recognition.
The need for power is also the need to feel that we are in control of our own lives. When you give students orders or commands, you frustrate their need for power. When you give them choices, you satisfy their need for power and give them a feeling that they are responsible enough to have control over their own behavior.
When you praise students for the things they do well, when you recognize their accomplishments, you are satisfying their need for power. When students feel powerless, they attempt to satisfy this need by exerting power over others by bullying, acting out in class or disobeying rules (showing they are more powerful than the person who set the rules).
Teachers most often frustrate their students' need for power when they continually criticize or belittle them, saying things like: "You never can do anything right." "I never had this problem with your sister." "Why can't you behave like Johnny?" "You are a real disappointment to me." These types of statements chip away at children's self-worth, frustrate their need for power, and in the end cause more problems.
There is one simple thing all teachers can do to help their students meet this need. At least once every day, every single day, pay every student a compliment. You will be surprised at the impact this can have.
4. The Need for Freedom
This is the need for the freedom to choose how we live our lives, to express ourselves freely, and to be free from the control of others. We are fortunate to live in a society with considerable freedom, and we are free to make countless choices every day.
Helping children satisfy this need does not mean giving them the freedom to do whatever they want to do. When we talk about helping students learn about responsibility, we are talking about giving them the freedom to choose. For instance, consider the following statement by a teacher to a child: "If you do not do your work, you are not going to go to recess." Now, compare that statement to this one: "Of course, you can go to recess if your work is done. It is your choice."
We can accomplish the same thing, making sure work is completed, with either a threat or the offer of a choice. A threat frustrates the children's need for power and does nothing to meet their need for freedom. Offering a choice meets both their needs for power and freedom and teaches them about responsibility--it is their choice.
5. The Need for Fun
I look at the psychological need for fun as the ultimate, positive diversion. When you are having fun, you are very happy. You are so happy that whatever cares or concerns you might have melt into the background. When we are having fun, we relax, recharge our batteries and enjoy a much-needed relief from the pressures that surround us. http://everything2.com/index.pl
http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1222239
posted by sasha at 5:01 AM
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