MOTIVATION MOTIVATION MOTIVATION
The high schools in the wealthy suburbs of Chicago are dealing with a “problem” that many teachers could only dream about having in their schools. The high schools are trying to convince students and parents that it’s a good idea for the students to have a lunch period. Apparently the students in those schools are so motivated, they are taking extra classes in bunches, and even during what should be their lunch time. Some of the high schools are so concerned that they have made lunch period mandatory for all students. If only these were the kinds of problems that the average inner city high school had to deal with.
Motivation is an area where most teaching jobs have changed dramatically in the past thirty years. When I started teaching, students and their parents were expected to be self motivated. Motivation techniques were not one of the primary areas of concern for most teachers. Today, motivating the students is considered by many to