Student Motivation

Student Motivation

Maybe we are wrong to blame teachers for our national students failure in schools. Even with the best teachers if the students don’t have the motivation to study and do their best work, they will fail. Motivation comes from many other sources than teachers. We know the saying, it takes a village to raise a child, maybe we should add, it takes a village to educate a child. Parents must drill it into kids that they expect good grades, and failure will not be tolerated. Teachers should have the same attitude. But even inspired teachers will fail if students aren’t studying. Parents cannot blame the teachers if the child doesn’t do the work. Washington Post economist, Robert Samuelson said, “The larger cause of student failure is almost unmentionable: shrunken motivation, students have to do the work. If they aren’t motivated, even capable teachers will fail. Motivation comes from many sources, curiosity, ambition, parental expectation, the expectation of getting into college, inspiring or intimidating teachers and peer pressure.”

Image by akasped via Flickr

The idea that teachers and school administrators are the cause of failing students is not substantiated. Students of all races in the U.S don’t work hard and don’t do well. In a study in 2008 of public high school teachers and students, absences were found to be a serious problem, as was student apathy. Research findings in Laurence Steinberg’s 1996 book “Beyond the Classroom” cited student motivation as the cause of widespread poor achievement. Research found in a study of 20,000 students in city and rural schools that one in five didn’t try because he’s worried that his friends will have a bad opinion of him. Most students spend hours more every week practicing sports and other activities than studying. It’s time for parents to put the emphasis on good grades. That should be the number one goal.

Today’s entertainers have a powerful influence on youngsters, and it’s not a good one. Parents must curtail unnecessary and harmful entertainment to see that kids have quiet study time. If they are overextended with sports practice and other activities, it must be cut back. Parents must teach kids that not succeeding in school is not an option, and no excuses are accepted.

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