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Our Old Guestbook Entries
|
|
Date:
| Fri Dec 31 19:14:05 2004
| Name:
| Valerie K. Hanssens
| E-mail:
| vkingphilly@aol.com
| Organization:
| independent-free-lance writer
| Location:
| Phila.
| How the site | was found: Beyond Discipine,a great book
| Comments:
| What do you think of Harry Wong's ideas?
|
|
Date:
| Thu Dec 30 15:04:37 2004
| Name:
| Janis Hill
| E-mail:
| jhill345@hotmail.com
| Organization:
|
| Location:
| Hillsboro, Oregon
| How the site | was found: Searching for a workshop to attend while visiting my
daughter in NY, thought I'd look up S. Harwayne
| Comments:
| As we struggle to find a balance, to keep the "test" from
driving the school, I find this forum and articles like yours great food
for thought. We have not all given up recess, the arts, and even fun in
education. I have to believe there is hope that the pendulum will again
swing back. I also believe that "rigor" and "joy" can both be a part of
modern public education. In fact, I think they really go together!! One of
the most difficult projects my 1/2/3 students completed was a design
technology challenge that was indeed a lot of work AND celebration, too!!
|
|
Date:
| Thu Dec 30 05:58:53 2004
| Name:
| David Marble
| E-mail:
| davidm1616@hotmail.com
| Organization:
|
| Location:
| Massachusetts
| How the site | was found:
| Comments:
| Dr. Kohn -- My wife and I have discussed many of your ideas
in enjoying our life as parents of a beautiful 2 year old girl. We are now
lucky enough to find out that we will soon have a 2nd child. We've been so
lucky in building a wonderful, positive relationship with our first child;
I'm worried about how we will possibly be able to devote the same time and
care it takes with our 2nd baby. To be honest, I'm more concerned about
our relationship with the 2 year old. She is very independent,caring, and
loving, but I'm worried about her. Are there particular books or articles
you would recommend?
|
|
Date:
| Wed Dec 29 10:26:36 2004
| Name:
| Xavier the Teacher
| E-mail:
|
| Organization:
| Public Schools
| Location:
| Philadelphia
| How the site | was found: "Punished By Rewards"
| Comments:
| Two questions...1)How many of you people reading this right
now would keep going to work if you stopped getting paid? 2)How many of
you people think you do a less creative job at work with more mistakes
because you are getting rewarded (getting a pay check)?
|
|
Date:
| Tue Dec 28 19:54:08 2004
| Name:
| Xavier the Teacher
| E-mail:
|
| Organization:
| Public Schools
| Location:
| Philadelphia
| How the site | was found: The book "Punished By Rewards"
| Comments:
| I think it is actually a great asset to offer rewards and
punishments to motivate children in the classroom. I believe that it is
very beneficial to the students to work toward a reward or goal. It is NOT
done because it is easy. It is done with the best intention of the
students future in mind. I think you should spend a day teaching an
elementary school class rather than talking about it.
|
|
Date:
| Tue Dec 28 06:18:10 2004
| Name:
| Heiner Putzier
| E-mail:
| heiner.putzier@t-online.de
| Organization:
|
| Location:
| Germany / 86911 Diessen
| How the site | was found: reading your book
| Comments:
| I just started to read "Punished by Rewards" and I am
really impressed by those logic arguments. I am working as a sales manager
and rewards, incentives and so on belong to the daily tools. But these
tools do not work for a longer period, it is only short-time-thinking. As
a father of 4 kids I totally agree with Alfie´s thinking. Rewarding kids
in order to reach certain goals will not work. Love, Trust and Consequence
are the sucessful parent´s tools and for me it seems these tools also work
outside the family.
|
|
Date:
| Sun Dec 26 15:25:29 2004
| Name:
| Donald Wright
| E-mail:
| dbwright@seasurf.net
| Organization:
| None
| Location:
| Astoria, OR
| How the site | was found: From: what Does It Mean to Be Well Educated
| Comments:
| YOUR Message thrills me with it's insight and reasoning.
|
|
Date:
| Sun Dec 26 04:10:22 2004
| Name:
| Mary Vitt
| E-mail:
| stevenandmary@comcast.net
| Organization:
| Parent
| Location:
| Boston, MA
| How the site | was found: PTEK (explosivekids.org)
| Comments:
| look forward to reading your books; just referred to your
site and am elated to have been!
|
|
Date:
| Wed Dec 22 01:48:56 2004
| Name:
| emil stan
| E-mail:
| estan10@yahoo.com
| Organization:
| professor at university of ploiesti, romania
| Location:
| loiesti, romania, europe
| How the site | was found: by accident
| Comments:
| the ideas of alfie kohn are very interesting because it
troubles the readers; I`d like to read the books and meet the man, but,
I`m afraid it is impossible. Emil Stan
|
|
Date:
| Tue Dec 21 22:48:48 2004
| Name:
| rusli rashid
| E-mail:
| ilsur@tm.net.my
| Organization:
| smtsp1
| Location:
| malaysia
| How the site | was found: thru browsing
| Comments:
| need to learn from other cultures
|
|
Date:
| Mon Dec 13 09:24:56 2004
| Name:
| paula wroath
| E-mail:
| paula.wroath@hmce.gsi.gov.uk
| Organization:
| none - just a parent!
| Location:
| England
| How the site | was found: via "freedom in Education" site
| Comments:
| Loved the articles, found some of them challenging as I
have been a user of gold stars etc as rewards. Am thinking deeply about
this now, as I found the articles made sense. I loved the article about
Character Education - not sure we have this so formally in the UK - not
yet anyway! I home educate my 7 year old, principly because I don't like
the way schools indoctrinate children, and found the article further
reinforced my decision! Paula
|
|
Date:
| Thu Dec 9 08:41:54 2004
| Name:
| Nancy Flanagan
| E-mail:
| loubug2@yahoo.com
| Organization:
| Proactive Parent
| Location:
| Virginia Beach, Va.
| How the site | was found: Researched Alfie Kohn on the web
| Comments:
| I want to first commend you Mr. Kohn for taking a risk and
discussing a very worthwild subject---grading in schools. When it comes to
broaching the subject of grading and the learning organization, there is a
fine line as to what is taboo and whats not. It seems that many of the
U.S. schools are unwilling to take a hard glance at the quality of the
education that students are receiving today. While, I will not include all
schools in this assessment, the fact remains that change starts at home.
There is power in numbers and parents should stand up and voice their
concerns and perhaps if enough parents felt as passionate as you do about
the way their children are graded or what type of education they are
getting, perhaps we would see some positive and noteworthy changes in the
U.S. educational system. It's important to note though, that since most
adults in this country grew up being graded in their formative schooling
years and are currently graded somewhat on their jobs, its difficult to
invoke such a radical change when the real work lay in changes at home.
Changes in attitude towards the learning institution, changes in the
relationships between parent and teacher and parent and child, changes in
the way we teach our children and how it affects them in and out of the
classroom. I believe schools should be more concerned about what the
children are learning and if what is being taught is ultimately being
thoroughly processed and absorbed rather than the school systems being so
absorbed with the notion of ranking children by grades and promoting
shameless competition that results in a lack of a quality education. And
again, it is the children who lose. I again want to thankyou for all of
your insightful wisdom, as I just finished reading What Does It Mean To Be
Well Educated? This was a very concise look at the way the educational
system sets our children up for failure, arms them with the tools to do it
and continues to perpetuate the failures of a 100 year old archaic way of
teaching by placing labels and promoting unhealthy attitudes towards
success and learning. I look forward to your upcoming books. Sincerely,
Nancy Flanagan
|
|
Date:
| Wed Dec 8 14:58:51 2004
| Name:
| C.G. Kaye
| E-mail:
| cgyorffy@hotmail.com
| Organization:
|
| Location:
| Ontario Canada
| How the site | was found:
| Comments:
| Really looking forward to your next book: unconditional
parenting.
|
|
Date:
| Wed Dec 8 11:15:15 2004
| Name:
| Jody McWilliams-Riibe
| E-mail:
| riibe@mlc.edu
| Organization:
| Midland Lutheran College
| Location:
| Fremont, NE
| How the site | was found: Google... "Alfie Kohn"
| Comments:
| I've lost touch with Alfie Kohn and his work, but a
colleague asked me some questions regarding college students and their
apparent resentment towards high expectations, unwillingness or inability
to read and think, etc. The response I gave were all "Alfie-like" and I
decided I wanted to return. Please let someone know that as Alfie
predicted in 1997, I did leave public education. He was right and I was
wrong. I thought I could "make sense of standards" as an educational
consultant and administrator, BUT the accountability measures for
standards put me over the edge and off my love of the professional
development job I'd done for thirteen years. I'm now an assistant
professor at a small liberal arts college and couldn't be happier.
Anyway... tell Alfie another dedicated and skilled educator left the
field.
|
|
Date:
| Fri Dec 3 13:11:44 2004
| Name:
| Fran Schmidt
| E-mail:
| fschmidt2@adelphia.net
| Organization:
| Peace Education International
| Location:
| Stuart, FL
| How the site | was found: Google
| Comments:
| Hi Alfie, Congratulations for having the stamina to stand
up for what you believe. Over the years, I have kept track of your writing
and beliefs. You are on target. Educators tell me that school is very
boring. They are threatened by their principals to prepare the children to
pass the "test" In turn, teachers threaten their students with failing the
grade. Rewards are almost used exclusively to keep the children motivated.
It's difficult for people to accept new thinking and get out of the box.
It's time for change. Keep up the struggle. Peace, Fran
|
|
Date:
| Thu Dec 2 21:56:31 2004
| Name:
| asel bottari
| E-mail:
| aseltan@aol.com
| Organization:
|
| Location:
| brooklyn
| How the site | was found: from school
| Comments:
|
|
|
Date:
| Mon Nov 29 12:04:06 2004
| Name:
| Tija Spitsberg
| E-mail:
| tijaspit@aol.com
| Organization:
|
| Location:
|
| How the site | was found: by looking up Alfie Kohn via google
| Comments:
| School reform is becoming more and more necessary. Given
the mania to make sure that all children read by first grade, will lead to
a nation of troubled dyslexics.
|
|
Date:
| Thu Nov 25 19:51:01 2004
| Name:
| Colleen Yankovic
| E-mail:
| cyankovic1@yahoo.com
| Organization:
| soon to be educator
| Location:
| Arizona
| How the site | was found: books
| Comments:
| Love Kohn's insight on standardized testing!
|
|
Date:
| Wed Nov 24 11:24:33 2004
| Name:
| Elisabeth Newman
| E-mail:
| newmane@bw.k12.ri.us
| Organization:
| Reynolds School
| Location:
| Bristol, RI
| How the site | was found: Alfie told us about it
| Comments:
| Hi, Alfie! Today was my first day back after your two day
seminar. I tried to implement many of the things I learned. It was scary
to walk in without MY lesson plan, but I learned so much about what my
students want and need. I'll be keeping a journal about the changes I'm
making, so I'll let you know how it goes. 'Till then, thanks for the new
outlook on "Who's class is it anyway?" Elisabeth Newman
|
|
Date:
| Tue Nov 23 21:01:48 2004
| Name:
| Skydancer
| E-mail:
| skydancer@direct-democracy.us
| Organization:
| Direct-Democracy.US
| Location:
| Western U.S.
| How the site | was found: read No Contest in 1986/Google today
| Comments:
| The Case Against Competition has been with me since 1968.
Recent events show just how damaging this human behavior is to our species
chances of happiness. Does anyone know of a website/message board/forum
where this is understood and a conversation takes place around the
question of how can we help to make the world a better place.
|
|
Date:
| Mon Nov 22 08:24:36 2004
| Name:
| Renee Albright
| E-mail:
| Renee.Albright@fwcs.k12.in.us
| Organization:
| South Side High School
| Location:
| Ft. Wayne, IN
| How the site | was found: "Teacher" magazine article
| Comments:
| Your message reminds me of Jonathan Kozol's; but he adds
that the power-brokers don't send their own kids to schools that focus on
testing. I worry that the parents don't see the consequenses; they were
"miserable" and accept the inevitability that their kids will be, too. In
the same issue of "Teacher", an article appeared that said Colorado's
teachers voted to link some of their pay to student performance! Same
idea: forsake the love of learning we were all born with for regimented
learning directed at scores. Our state (Ind.) has just had a privately
funded study commission release information to improve our schools. They
suggested linking teacher pay to not only achievement, but to student
attendance and parental involvement, as well! They also suggested
collective bargaining was a hindrance to education (no support for this,
of course). They are looking to privatize the cafeteria and custodial
jobs. Nevertheless, some of us have always and will always infuse our
classrooms with as much joy as we can. In the 1980's, Madeline Hunter
called this the room's "feeling tone" and linked it to performance. SHE
had data to support her (unlike our illustrious commission). I'm so
saddened at the fact that I will ocassionally get a student who believes
that having fun in the class means they aren't getting an education. I
feel like the next generation is going to pass this on like a genetic
disorder. I smell a rat; I feel that business people (a growing number of
lawmakers), who oppose unions and happy teachers, want a growing number of
"dishonorably discharged", educated, not-graduating seniors. Educated,
low-pay employees of the future. Thanks for sharing your work with us!
|
|
Date:
| Sun Nov 21 17:37:40 2004
| Name:
| Alfred
| E-mail:
| Bork
| Organization:
| Univ of California
| Location:
| IRVINE
| How the site | was found: nclbgrassroots
| Comments:
|
|
|
Date:
| Sat Nov 20 10:30:52 2004
| Name:
| Mindy Fitzsimmons
| E-mail:
| fitzbunch@aol.com
| Organization:
| Teacher
| Location:
| New York
| How the site | was found: Searched Alfie Kohn
| Comments:
| I just went to see Alfie Kohn a couple of weeks ago in
Elmira. I new what I was getting into...but definitely have to share
something our Principal and Board of Ed has asked us to do to 'honor' and
'acknowledge children'.They have created a High Five Award....this
consists of citizenship, cooperation, effort...etc. We are an elementary
school. They have asked us to select 5 children from each grade, at five
week intervals. These children get a paper certificate, and applause from
their schoolmates. I see it differently....I see 5 children out of each
grade walk out of the gym happy and 65+ kids leave the gym disappointed. I
have not been able to convince my principal that this is not that helpful.
They even have created an Attendance Award.....so we have kids coming into
school sick...or feel terrible that they missed a day due to illness, or
family business etc. That's a quick run down on the situation...with many
other details left out. How can I convince them, that this is not the way
to go about 'honoring' and 'acknowleging' our students? I thoroughly
enjoyed Alfie's presentational style and viewpoints on the Standards and
achievement. Help !
|
|
Date:
| Fri Nov 19 04:08:48 2004
| Name:
| Eileen Voss
| E-mail:
| dgvoss@sbcglobal.net
| Organization:
| Union Grove Elementary School
| Location:
| Union Grove, WI
| How the site | was found: On-line Teacher Magazine
| Comments:
| To: Alfie From: Happiness Advocate How good to read
"Joyless Endeavors" this morning! I'm a teacher since 1970 and agree with
you that we have to work too hard to meld the 'standards' for those
Looming State Tests with the joy of learning. I chose teaching because
most of my teachers in the 50's made learning interesting in a sunny
atmosphere. My parents viewed my schooling as extremely important and I
knew that. This year's class has an abundance of supportive parents and
that's been so rewarding. Somehow the parents can meld their own tiring
'working too hard' in today's economy with taking time to ask what their
child learned. JFK said children are our best resource and our future.
Accountability? Yes. Respectful control? Yes. Honest mistakes? Yes. Second
chances? Yes. Laughter? Absolutely. Positive thinking? Yes... We do have
rules in my class. Rule # 1: Be kind. Rule # 2: See rule number one. Got
that list from a mentor teacher who was an advocate of making learning
fun, and school a place where kids can share their Joys and Concerns
before starting their day. (Works.) Thanks for this forum. I'll read more
of your site tomorrow. It's Friday, and well, we do have to write lesson
plans. Eileen
|
|
Date:
| Thu Nov 18 07:29:32 2004
| Name:
| Deborah Jasiukonis
| E-mail:
| djasiukonis@hotmail.com
| Organization:
| Granada Hills Baptist School
| Location:
| 10949 Zelzah Ave. Granda Hills Ca
| How the site | was found: searching web site
| Comments:
| Anything on 3rd gr coopertive learning activities
|
|
Date:
| Mon Nov 15 13:20:37 2004
| Name:
| Chris Browne
| E-mail:
| chris_browne@ocdsb.edu.on.ca
| Organization:
| Voice in the (hopefully shrinking) wilderness
| Location:
| Ottawa, Canada
| How the site | was found: Saw Mr. Kohn speak
| Comments:
| It is heartening to see the amount of energy being expended
on this highly important area of education - that is, forcing the agenda
of public schooling away from adults and politics and towards children and
learning. We who teach in Ontario are just beginning to come out of our
shelters following the predations of Hurricane Harris. Mr. Harris and his
government managed to cynically and deliberately engineer a downward
spiral in education in Ontario largely by making the goal of public
schooling to be fiscal accountability rather than teaching and learning.
The evidence for this is vast and the damage they have done to the
children who went through their Macheavellian mincing machine is yet to be
assessed. This is not to say that every aspect of their programme was
flawed. The new curriculum, for example, is a good document if you can get
over the tendency to treat it like a bible and view it more as a series of
guidelines. The positive outcomes of the harrisites's "Common Sense
revolution", however, are eclipsed by the conflict they engendered for
their own political gain. I have begun to think of these people and others
like them who deliberately visit their adult predations on the world of
children as political pedophiles. It seems to me that we need to ensure
that political pedophilia becomes anethema if we are ever going to counter
the truth that the biggest obstacle to children getting a competent and
comprehensive education is adults.
|
|
Date:
| Mon Nov 15 09:34:07 2004
| Name:
| Sean Joseph
| E-mail:
| sjoseph3@rochester.rr.com
| Organization:
| Rush-Henrietta Central School District
| Location:
| Rochester NY
| How the site | was found: Read the books, talked to colleagues
| Comments:
| Keep up the good fight, I am a high school music teacher
and fortunately for me I can more easily implement change. Unfortunately
for me, my subject is always the first on the "chopping block" guess I
should have been a core subject teacher!
|
|
Date:
| Sat Nov 13 02:06:12 2004
| Name:
| Alan Neville
| E-mail:
| neville@northern.edu
| Organization:
| Northern State University
| Location:
| Aberdeen, SD
| How the site | was found:
| Comments:
| Alfie Kohn is my hero. He tells it like it is and is not
afraid to "rattle the cage." Bravo!
|
|
Date:
| Thu Nov 11 20:11:03 2004
| Name:
| Tammi Alexander
| E-mail:
| talexand@elmiracityschools.com
| Organization:
| Elmira City School District
| Location:
| Elmira, NY
| How the site | was found: search
| Comments:
| I attended your lecture at Elmira College last night and
wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed it. You are a dynamic speaker. I
was truly impressed and totally engaged for the entire evening. Your
enthusiasm and insight on motivation and achievement and testing is
commendable. Thank you for challenging my thinking...once again...both as
a parent and an elementary teacher.
|
|
Date:
| Wed Nov 10 15:15:04 2004
| Name:
| Terry J Smith
| E-mail:
| terry_j_smith@keybank.com
| Organization:
| Key Bank
| Location:
| Cleveland, Ohio
| How the site | was found: via Effortless Tennis site, Brent Zeller
| Comments:
| Sounds good to me. I still have some questions, though, as
to what a non-competition world leads to. Maybe we just have to redefine
competition. As someone said of golf, forget the opponent, just try to
beat par. Or, as a greater challenge after we've met solitary challenges,
competition with another human brings the best out of us, as in hitting a
tennis ball against a wall vs. playing someone. If we define the
competition as beating 'his skill' only we are still able to relate to him
after the match without feeling an overall sense of superiority. Maybe you
would say the same, that competition is OK so long as it's not given the
highest priority, that being reserved for the joy of playing. I look
forward to reading more of your work. Thank you.
|
|
Date:
| Sat Nov 6 16:47:48 2004
| Name:
| Suzanne Keller Hoeflich
| E-mail:
| hillwindsfarm1@aol.com
| Organization:
| Pacific University
| Location:
| Forest Grove, Oregon
| How the site | was found: Search
| Comments:
| I was really glad to see voice what I,ve always believed
but I am still searching for the tools to make these ideas work
|
|
Date:
| Sat Nov 6 14:21:04 2004
| Name:
| Kristen Thomson
| E-mail:
| baccuda@comcast.net
| Organization:
| parenthood usa
| Location:
| Clackamas, OR
| How the site | was found: books, then surfing
| Comments:
| Whenever I feel pessimistic about the way things are going
(are we in more than just an education dark era?), I turn to Alfie Kohn. A
voice of reason! I just read "Feel-Bad Education". I'm lucky that my
Kindergartner loves school but I worry when she brings home a treat for
"cupping and covering" when she coughs (when she already understands why
you'd want to keep germs away from. Fortunately, there is not too much of
this. And there is a playground. Thank you, Mr. Kohn.
|
|
Date:
| Sat Nov 6 08:05:59 2004
| Name:
| james brady
| E-mail:
| jim@sbms.org
| Organization:
| santa barbara middle school
| Location:
| santa barbara CA
| How the site | was found:
| Comments:
| fine thoughts at aee! thanks.
|
|
Date:
| Thu Oct 21 18:26:14 2004
| Name:
| Candace Lilyquist
| E-mail:
| clilyquist@nea.org
| Organization:
| National Education Association
| Location:
| Washington D.C.
| How the site | was found: Google
| Comments:
| Your work is inspiring.
|
|
Date:
| Thu Oct 21 16:32:01 2004
| Name:
| linda dunn
| E-mail:
| l.dunn93CSCSD.us
| Organization:
| syracuse city school district
| Location:
| syracuse new york
| How the site | was found: alfiekohn.com
| Comments:
| the article "can character education reverse moral
decline?" was the first article that i had ever read about why the methods
that are being used today need to be revisted. i've always heard about why
character ed is such a good program but never about is it really working
for our children and are our children really internalizing its values.
thanks for the enlightenment.PS used in pro/con criti cal issues grad
course
|
|
Date:
| Wed Oct 20 08:06:32 2004
| Name:
| Clyde Gaw
| E-mail:
| campak14@msn.com
| Organization:
| New Palestine Elementary School
| Location:
| New Palestine, Indiana
| How the site | was found: My colleague tuned me into it.....
| Comments:
| Dr. Kohn's logic and insight provide wonderful leverage for
reforming the misguided attempts of the educational reform movement. Thank
you Dr. Kohn
|
|
Date:
| Tue Oct 19 20:25:59 2004
| Name:
| michelle flecker
| E-mail:
| michelle.flecker@tdsb.on.ca
| Organization:
| Toronto district School Board
| Location:
| Toronto Canada
| How the site | was found: google
| Comments:
|
|
|
Date:
| Sun Oct 17 11:59:46 2004
| Name:
| Mariah Kraus
| E-mail:
| Jmkraus111@aol.com
| Organization:
| Elementary Education Student at GSU
| Location:
| University Park Illinois
| How the site | was found: Research Character Education
| Comments:
| Thank you for giving voice to my long held beliefs.
|
|
Date:
| Sun Oct 17 09:20:33 2004
| Name:
| Clark Fralick
| E-mail:
| cfralick@indy.net
| Organization:
| Sugar Creek Elementary School
| Location:
| New Palestine, Indiana
| How the site | was found: From internet search
| Comments:
|
|
|
Date:
| Fri Oct 15 13:41:28 2004
| Name:
| Suzanne Hall
| E-mail:
| suzanne.hall@shaw.ca
| Organization:
| University of Calgary student
| Location:
| Calgary, Alberta
| How the site | was found: Publication of the Alberta Teachers' Association
| Comments:
| Your publications have helped so much with my research
assignment. "Standardized testing should be discontinued in Canadian
Schools." As a mother of a gifted ADHD child I appreciate your viewpoints!
|
|
Date:
| Fri Oct 15 12:46:40 2004
| Name:
| Anne Boulton
| E-mail:
| reachmeatanneb@hotmail.com
| Organization:
|
| Location:
| Montreal, Qc
| How the site | was found: an attatchment parenting site had your link
| Comments:
| I am a new mother and am finding out what kind of parent I
want to be; namely a praiseless one. If I hadn't read your articles, I
think I would've continued in the rewards/punishment kind of style! Thank
YOU!
|
|
Date:
| Tue Oct 12 11:42:16 2004
| Name:
| maria Sleegers
| E-mail:
| m.sleegers@varendonck.nl
| Organization:
| Varendonck-college
| Location:
| Asten
| How the site | was found: via NLP-trainer Henriette Mol
| Comments:
|
|
|
Date:
| Mon Oct 11 08:48:33 2004
| Name:
| Rich Sidwell
| E-mail:
| rich@olneyfriends.org
| Organization:
| Olney Friends School
| Location:
| Barnesville, OH
| How the site | was found: referred to in conference presentation
| Comments:
| I am glad to see traditional education being challenged
with intellect and humor.
|
|
Date:
| Sun Oct 10 16:10:51 2004
| Name:
| Karla Luedke
| E-mail:
| karla@luedke.com
| Organization:
| ABC Daycare and Learning Center
| Location:
| O'Fallon, MO
| How the site | was found: Keynote Speaker @ a Conference Attended
| Comments:
| The ideas put forth seem to link very tightly with the
Reggio Emelia early childhood philosophy...I wondered if Mr. Kohn had ever
had the opporutnity to observe or be part of a facility that supports this
philosphy. I had such the pleasure for a short time. Thank you for all
that you do!
|
|
Date:
| Sat Oct 9 22:55:50 2004
| Name:
| Bonita Hall
| E-mail:
| hall_b@aps.edu
| Organization:
| Albuquerque Public Schools
| Location:
| Albuquerque, NM
| How the site | was found: Michael White referred me to publications
| Comments:
|
|
|
Date:
| Sat Oct 9 17:36:47 2004
| Name:
| Becky Brewer
| E-mail:
| beckybreweroly@comcast.net
| Organization:
|
| Location:
| Olympia, WA
| How the site | was found: Reading your books
| Comments:
| I'm Just a Mom - reading your books, and finding myself not
heard in our education system. My son's teacher not only has awards, but
they are huge - and every Friday the superstars for the week are called
forward to shake her hand in front of the class - leaving any 9 year old's
that didn't complete all or misplaced any homework assignments sitting at
their desks. I'm being perceived as overly sensitive - but I think this
sounds like shaming. Our state has a no bullying law that makes it illegal
to do anything with the effect of "insulting or demeaning any student or
group of students in such a way as to disrupt or interfere with the
school's educational mission or the education of any student". Doesn't
this "positive star" program qualify as "bullying" - anyone with ideas or
advice - I would love help on knowing how to help change this. Thank You.
|
|
Date:
| Fri Oct 8 19:20:12 2004
| Name:
| Max Zimmerman
| E-mail:
| zimmervolk@sbcglobal.net
| Organization:
| PB Student (working for teacher cert)
| Location:
| UH Downtown
| How the site | was found: Attended conference
| Comments:
| My wife has been a Montessori teacher for 12 years. She
would have loved your address. Useful quote: "It's not enough to keep
weighing the calf; occasionally you have to feed it."
|
|
Date:
| Thu Oct 7 12:02:36 2004
| Name:
| nyumbu chishwashwa
| E-mail:
| nyumbu@aims.ac.za
| Organization:
| AIMS
| Location:
| SOUTH AFRICA
| How the site | was found: GOOGLE
| Comments:
| The book is a perfect read.
|
|
Date:
| Wed Oct 6 10:28:46 2004
| Name:
| Carla Tidwell
| E-mail:
| ctidwell@sandiaprep.org
| Organization:
| Independent Day School, grades 6 - 12
| Location:
| Albuquerque, New Mexico
| How the site | was found: read article of Alfie Kohn in recent Education Week
publication
| Comments:
| I just read Kohn's Feel-Bad Education: the Cult of Rigor
and the Loss of Joy. I loved the article and most of the faculty at Sandia
Prep subscribe to the notion that learning can and should be a joyful
endeavor. We believe we do some pretty darn joyful things around, but
there is always room for improvement. We'd love to have Alfie Kohn speak
to our faculty...how should I proceed to try and make this happen?
|
|
Date:
| Mon Oct 4 10:33:29 2004
| Name:
| Jacqueline V Golson
| E-mail:
| deltadiva47@aol.com
| Organization:
| Alief ISD
| Location:
| Elsik High School
| How the site | was found: Internet search
| Comments:
| Thank you Mr. Kohn for waking us (teachers) up. For years
we have been turning students OFF in the guise of teaching reading. Thank
you for "fixing" my remote control!!!! I have revamped my classroom
strategies. I now have kids "fighting" over books and asking to be place
on a waiting list for books! Who said miracles don't happen?!!!!
|
|
Date:
| Sat Oct 2 19:10:08 2004
| Name:
| Donna Beardsley
| E-mail:
| dbmorten123@aol.com
| Organization:
| Ottawa University
| Location:
| Phoenix, AZ
| How the site | was found: Yahoo
| Comments:
| I am doing a reseach paper on Alfie Kohn's teaching
philosophy
|
|
Date:
| Sat Oct 2 05:48:47 2004
| Name:
| Pat Baldwin
| E-mail:
| epaiko@aol.com
| Organization:
| Radford City Schools
| Location:
| Radford, VA
| How the site | was found: Lecture at RU
| Comments:
| Thoroughly enjoyed and learned much at RU lecture. Thanks.
|
|
Date:
| Thu Sep 30 08:39:56 2004
| Name:
| Sky Kalkman
| E-mail:
| skyking162@gmail.com
| Organization:
|
| Location:
|
| How the site | was found: co-teacher
| Comments:
| I'm looking for a forum to discuss applications of Kohn's
philosophies. If anyone has a good education philosophy forum to
recommend, please let me know. I'd also like a good HS math forum to share
geometry ideas, but that's a different issue. Love Kohn's ideas, and so
far my seniors do, too.
|
|
Date:
| Thu Sep 30 07:00:28 2004
| Name:
| Janine Logan
| E-mail:
| Teacher856@comcast.net
| Organization:
| Rowan University (student)
| Location:
| Glassboro, New Jersey`
| How the site | was found: Google
| Comments:
| I am working on a bio of Alfie Kohn for a college project.
Can you please send me information on what elementary and high school he
attended. Thanks!
|
|
Date:
| Wed Sep 29 15:13:10 2004
| Name:
| Ramin
| E-mail:
| ramin_amiri@hotmail.com
| Organization:
|
| Location:
| Fairfax, Virginia
| How the site | was found: Through an article
| Comments:
| I have just started to read your books and have learned
much from them. Many thanks Ramin
|
|
Date:
| Wed Sep 29 11:54:39 2004
| Name:
| kelly green
| E-mail:
| greenacres4@shaw.ca
| Organization:
|
| Location:
|
| How the site | was found: book
| Comments:
|
|
|
Date:
| Sun Sep 26 11:28:21 2004
| Name:
| Carlota Salinas
| E-mail:
| csalinas@mcisd.org
| Organization:
| student of UTPA
| Location:
| South Texas
| How the site | was found: link aquired in the May 2004 volume of Educational
Leadership
| Comments:
| I find interest in your analysis of the current state of
affairs of our public schools. So much work for us to do...I believe it
starts with relationship building. See you at the top.
|
|
Date:
| Sat Sep 25 13:31:54 2004
| Name:
| paul thompson
| E-mail:
|
| Organization:
| student of UMUC
| Location:
| Europe Division
| How the site | was found: Browsing for assignment
| Comments:
|
|
|
Date:
| Fri Sep 24 17:07:46 2004
| Name:
| Roger L. Wells
| E-mail:
| roger.wells@nsbsd.org
| Organization:
| North Slope Borough School District
| Location:
| Barrow, Alaska
| How the site | was found: District E-mail
| Comments:
| I agree and appriciate your helpful insight on many school
related issues including students need to enjoy school and their need to
have a positive experience while attending school.
|
|
Date:
| Thu Sep 16 16:38:22 2004
| Name:
| Michael Craver
| E-mail:
| m.craver@verizon.net
| Organization:
| Westfield Board of Education
| Location:
| Westfield, NJ
| How the site | was found: by reading "The Schools our Children Deserve", and "What it
Means to be Well-Educated"
| Comments:
| I could not agree more with all that you say about
education. I am a 5th grade teacher in an affluent community. So many
people there have blinders on about the hidden curriculum in education.
They wear their children's test scores as badges and are often annoyed
when I downplay them. They have taught their children well to play the
game of school. However when I put the focus in the classroom on education
and use non traditional means to assess their learning - which have they
have little control over because a large part of the way I assess is
performanced based - they become very frustrated. The children adapt,
although with it being very early in the school year, I am in the process
of attempting to undo the years of traditional conditioning they have
become accustom to. I have passed your ideas onto several colleagues,
especially those in special education and teaching part-to-whole basic
skills to children that have been in their program for years. It is
amazing how unreceptive to new learning educators and educated parents can
be. Each day I go in to fight the good fight in the name of what is best
for kids becoming life long inquirers and lovers of learning, but so many
are so myopic, it is constantly an uphill battle. I'm still relatively
young, so I'm up for it! But I can see why so many educators with the best
of intentions ride it out in their remaining years. I intend to continue
to bestow my principles, virtues and long term vision for the education I
want my students and my own children to have - many of which we share -
and increase my circle of influence, much to the chagrin of my
administrator!!
|
|
Date:
| Wed Sep 15 11:31:08 2004
| Name:
| George Hattar
| E-mail:
| hattar314@yahoo.com
| Organization:
| College Student
| Location:
| Chicago
| How the site | was found: yahoo
| Comments:
| I have read many journal articles and since soph. year of
high school till today i read a lot of what you publish. I love your work.
Hope to see more books published about education so i may use them when i
become a teacher or professor. George Hattar Chicago, IL
|
|
Date:
| Wed Sep 15 08:29:25 2004
| Name:
| Allyson Mestere
| E-mail:
| allysonmestre@hotmail.com
| Organization:
| American School Foundation
| Location:
| Mexico City
| How the site | was found: Conference
| Comments:
| I just wanted to say Thank you for coming to ASF and giving
us such wonderful insight. WOW, we sure need to reevaluate our views both
as parents and educators. I was pleased and very grateful to have had the
opportunity to attend the conference and the round table. Keep doing such
wonderful work, we really need it. The world we live in needs ideas like
yours. Allyson Mestre
|
|
Date:
| Wed Sep 15 06:38:39 2004
| Name:
| Evan Grant
| E-mail:
| ergrant@sympatico.ca
| Organization:
| ---------------------
| Location:
| Kingsville, Ontario, Canada
| How the site | was found: search
| Comments:
| Dr. Kohn what a great book 'No Contest' We have to start
parenting from the heart as per Global Ideas Bank article "Lack of
touching leads to violence" to have people who are coopertive rather than
competitive. We now have 12 countries in Europe where children have the
same protection against assault as adults do.(Sweden 1979)Attitudes are
changing there. The Association for Pre and Perinatal Paychology And
Health are doing ongoing research on how aware babies are at birth and
prebirth.(Natural childbirth methods as opposed to obstetrical birth)
|
|
Date:
| Tue Sep 14 18:20:55 2004
| Name:
| shellian mirander
| E-mail:
| brinafull100@aol.com
| Organization:
|
| Location:
| new jersey
| How the site | was found: proffessor
| Comments:
|
|
|
Date:
| Mon Sep 13 10:32:39 2004
| Name:
| Timothy Lifrak
| E-mail:
| lifrak_99@yahoo.com
| Organization:
| N.B. Borden School
| Location:
| Fall River
| How the site | was found:
| Comments:
| How do I go about finding the availability of Alfie
scheduling a lecture in my area and the cost?
|
|
Date:
| Sat Sep 11 11:59:18 2004
| Name:
| Brendan Smith
| E-mail:
| brendansmith@sbcglobal.net
| Organization:
| Teacher/Parent
| Location:
| Oakland, CA
| How the site | was found: Google
| Comments:
| I respect and agree with most of what Mr.(Dr?) Kohn states.
However, I have found it difficult to find specific reccomendations about
what works in parenting and teaching because I have found that the
emphasis in his writing is to critisize the status quo. I find myself
nodding my head in agreement and asking "what methods do you specifically
propose to solve the problem?".Can you direct me to specific
reccomendations about what does work and how to implement it, particularly
in the classroom? Thank You, Brendan Smith
|
|
Date:
| Mon Sep 6 09:21:25 2004
| Name:
| sue denman
| E-mail:
| mumdenman@aol.com
| Organization:
| Bay Distric Schools
| Location:
| Panama City, Fl.
| How the site | was found: Class room Management Book
| Comments:
| I would be interested in how long Mr. Kohn taught and
where.
|
|
Date:
| Mon Sep 6 08:40:48 2004
| Name:
| Eva Harting
| E-mail:
| hartingem@comcast.net
| Organization:
|
| Location:
| Kindergarten Teacher Creighton Elementary Phila. PA School
| How the site | was found: Researching articles about discipline.
| Comments:
| I've obtained very informative, and useful information from
this site.
|
|
Date:
| Sun Sep 5 06:19:02 2004
| Name:
|
| E-mail:
| kroherron@hotmail.com
| Organization:
|
| Location:
|
| How the site | was found:
| Comments:
|
|
|
Date:
| Sun Sep 5 02:00:41 2004
| Name:
| Tricia Robertson
| E-mail:
| triciarobertson@aol.com
| Organization:
| Latrobe University
| Location:
| Victoria, Australia
| How the site | was found: Read quote from "A Kohn"
| Comments:
| Visited website to follow up a quote I found from "A Kohn".
Not a familiar name in Australia. Used it with my health and physical
education class with students who are training to be classroom primary
(elementary) school teachers
|
|
Date:
| Thu Aug 26 16:43:39 2004
| Name:
| Teresa F. Johnson
| E-mail:
|
| Organization:
| UWF Student
| Location:
| FWB, FL
| How the site | was found: course EDF 6691
| Comments:
|
|
|
Date:
| Thu Aug 26 09:27:35 2004
| Name:
| Steven Byers
| E-mail:
| sbyers@wirb.com
| Organization:
| Western IRB
| Location:
| Olympia WA
| How the site | was found: Long time reader
| Comments:
| I just saw a story about the Krispy Kreme "donuts for A's"
program, quite reminiscent of the Pizza Hut reading program. Yikes. What a
great (sad)example of, among other things, our utter lack of understanding
of systems thinking. Will students, dreaming of a donut while they burn
the midnight oil, also contemplate obesity?
|
|
Date:
| Sat Aug 21 05:49:20 2004
| Name:
| Sharon Phillips
| E-mail:
| sharon@oldfoggies.net
| Organization:
|
| Location:
| Poughkeepsie, NY
| How the site | was found: http://reclaimdemocracy.org/education/
| Comments:
| One of the most disturbing trends I see in education is
growing empowerment over public policy. Little is said about the prison
like settings and catering to upper class white women as the implementors
of the lastest program or technique. Laws that allow school districts to
benefit by excluding children and the sheer power of the administration
armed with lawyers, is a tyranny that remains undiscussed in liberal
circles.
|
|
Date:
| Sat Aug 21 03:37:06 2004
| Name:
| Asaba Owerri
| E-mail:
| homeboy@yahoo.com
| Organization:
| banking
| Location:
| lagos
| How the site | was found: friend
| Comments:
| Your books, "No Contest" and "Punished by Rewards," have
been crucial to my defining my own value system. I first read them when I
was in the for-profit consulting world, and afterwards, I grew
increasingly ill-at-ease with participating in Capitalism. You helped me
to understand why. I now work for the Church, and I am more at home. Many,
many thanks!
|
|
Date:
| Thu Aug 19 12:51:07 2004
| Name:
| Paul Moore
| E-mail:
| pmoore1953@aol.com
| Organization:
| United Teachers of Dade (AFT)
| Location:
| Miami, Florida
| How the site | was found: Research
| Comments:
| I am a public high school teacher in Florida where Gov.
Bush's FCAT test is greatly harming many young people. I want to be in
touch with the test resistance movement.
|
|
Date:
| Mon Aug 16 15:56:08 2004
| Name:
| Yvette M. Rios
| E-mail:
| yvettemr@sbcglobal.net
| Organization:
| Teacher
| Location:
| Riverside
| How the site | was found: From Reading Alfie Kohn's Books
| Comments:
|
|
|
Date:
| Fri Aug 13 16:22:19 2004
| Name:
| pam Reynolds
| E-mail:
| pittrey@aol.com
| Organization:
| Teacher
| Location:
| Pennsylvaniz
| How the site | was found: Textbook
| Comments:
| Taking a course on Behavior Management. You are one of the
strategies discussed. I read your book Punished By Rewards. Trying to
convince people in my class that this is a must read!
|
|
Date:
| Fri Aug 13 16:19:53 2004
| Name:
| Deborah O'Leary
| E-mail:
| Mapmomma@cox.net
| Organization:
|
| Location:
| Rhode Island
| How the site | was found: being my children's ed advocate.
| Comments:
| I did not think much about the school system I grew up with
until I had to send my bright, inquisitive children into the brick
buildings years later. I saw the toddlers who were fascinated with the
world, become ditto producing cynics. It used to be fun, it used to be
learning, now it's WORK. I plan to pick up one of your books to read on
vacation in Maine. The biggest battle I have to face is advocating for my
youngest son with Asperger's. It amazes me how little knowledge our school
professionals have about Autism Spectrum Disorders. Once again, I will
have to hand a child over to those who dwell in the brick buildings and
teach them what they need to know.
|
|
Date:
| Fri Aug 13 07:13:02 2004
| Name:
| GERALD BOLEK
| E-mail:
| gbolek@scettc.org
| Organization:
| SOMERSET COUNTY SCHOOL-BASED YOUTH SERVICES/HUMAN SERVICES
COORDINATOR
| Location:
| NEW JERSEY
| How the site | was found: COMMON RESEARCH
| Comments:
| GREAT SITE. THANK YOU!
|
|
Date:
| Thu Aug 12 06:19:25 2004
| Name:
| Veronica Anne Retnam
| E-mail:
| annevr16@yahoo.com
| Organization:
| volunteer at a learning centre
| Location:
| seremban, Malaysia
| How the site | was found: From " punished by Rewards"
| Comments:
| Your message resonates with my persoanl experience. While I
was teaching fulltime I was involved in projects that were of a voluntary
nature. The moment these counted for our evaluation, I was demotivated
& stopped. My training in educational psychology points to a need to
practise the priciples discussed. in solidarity veronica
|
|
Date:
| Thu Aug 5 18:19:05 2004
| Name:
| Andi
| E-mail:
|
| Organization:
|
| Location:
| Kansas
| How the site | was found:
| Comments:
| Finally on the news last week I heard about a newly
graduated teacher that did not pass the Praxis teacher's test given by
ETS.So he applied for a job in Poland which he will be leaving shortly
for. Come to find out (I am not sure how they found out) that he did pass
the test. The news also said that ther are 4,000 teachers or potential
teachers that ETS said they did not pass the test, but later to find out
they really did. ETS is messing with people's lives. I complained about
this years ago to (instructors) and they acted like I didn't know what I
was talking about. It appears to me that they want people's money. So, the
more times (supposely you fail) the more money they can get from you. ETS
needs to be investigated. I am a teacher and I had to take the test a few
times because I did not pass (supposedly). I finally passed it with the
encouragement of family and friends.My self esteem was hurt and I was
depressed off and on for 1 1/2 until I passed that test. It is very
discouraging. I am glad the news brought this up because I have been
hoping for years that my feelings would come out to be true. Now, what
will the unions do? I belong to the union and I encourage every teacher to
belong to one. You never know when you will need it. I know I did this
past year!!!
|
|
Date:
| Wed Aug 4 22:47:18 2004
| Name:
| Lesley Forrest
| E-mail:
|
| Organization:
|
| Location:
| New Zealand
| How the site | was found: via Google
| Comments:
| As an adviser this is a great place to visit when looking
for information to support teachers in their work and/or help them resolve
issues.
|
|
Date:
| Sun Aug 1 21:14:08 2004
| Name:
| Jessica
| E-mail:
|
| Organization:
|
| Location:
| New Zealand
| How the site | was found: lecturer
| Comments:
| doing an assignment on how competition effects motivation -
helped heaps. many thanks.
|
|
Date:
| Sat Jul 31 00:58:47 2004
| Name:
| Paul Williams
| E-mail:
| psw2608@aol.com
| Organization:
|
| Location:
| London
| How the site | was found: web search
| Comments:
| I am an Educational Psychologist (in the US 'school
psychologist') in London, I also teach for the Open University here in the
UK, after giving a Tutorial on the applications of behaviourism a student
of mine recommended recommended Alfie's book 'Punished by rewards'. I
found the book a real eye-opener, and I am interested in any resources
that might be available here in the UK. All the best Paul
|
|
Date:
| Fri Jul 30 08:51:31 2004
| Name:
| Jennifer
| E-mail:
| JPelle10@aol.com
| Organization:
| English Teacher
| Location:
| New York
| How the site | was found: ASCD link
| Comments:
| This site provided efefctive arguements against tougher
standards and the language to exoress to others why I too can't stand our
push for "tougher standards", as least as politics defines them. And thank
you Mr. Kohn for your voice, it is a powerful one.
|
|
Date:
| Thu Jul 29 06:47:51 2004
| Name:
| Steve Fenske
| E-mail:
| steve__fen@msn.com
| Organization:
| Teacher in Learning Disabilities
| Location:
| Rochester, MN
| How the site | was found: Learning of your methods at Grad school
| Comments:
| Please place me on your mailing list. Keep up the good work
Mr. Kohn.
|
|
Date:
| Wed Jul 28 10:23:20 2004
| Name:
| Carol Gross
| E-mail:
| caroljgross@comcast.net
| Organization:
| Teacher
| Location:
|
| How the site | was found:
| Comments:
| Please Put me on email list for you newsletter. I use to
get it under UserCarol8383@cs.com Please sent it to my new email address.
Thanks
|
|
Date:
| Sun Jul 25 12:39:47 2004
| Name:
| D'Nell Duree
| E-mail:
| nellee@carrollsweb.com
| Organization:
|
| Location:
| Kansas
| How the site | was found: Class at Friends University
| Comments:
| Interesting reading
|
|
Date:
| Wed Jul 21 09:18:17 2004
| Name:
| Michael Jacoby
| E-mail:
| jonah3b12@hotmail.com
| Organization:
| West York
| Location:
| Pennsylvania
| How the site | was found: just found it
| Comments:
| Mr Alfie Kohn is not the savior of humanity. What he
proposes will basically turn the students of today into self-centered,self
righteous individuals whose only concern will be to satisfy their own
desires.Can a person actually develop virtue, self-control, or love of
humanity if it has not been tested? The bottom line is that the students
will be given what they want for the most part. In the world of business
today, Mr. Kohn's philosophy is futile.I wonder if educators are looking
for an easy way out or if they are truly interested in the welfare of our
youth. Man has always had to strive with difficulty to get to where he is
today. The philosophy that Mr Kohn is proposing around the country may be
undermining everything that our civilization has strived to achieve.
|
|
Date:
| Tue Jul 20 15:32:58 2004
| Name:
| Carmen Taylor
| E-mail:
| carmen_taylor@skc.edu
| Organization:
| National Indian School Board Association
| Location:
| Polson, MT
| How the site | was found: through nochildleft.com
| Comments:
| what a great site!
|
|
Date:
| Tue Jul 20 07:37:13 2004
| Name:
| R. Stephen Gracey
| E-mail:
| sgracey@dohio.org
| Organization:
| Episcopal Diocese of Ohio
| Location:
| Cleveland, OH
| How the site | was found: Read books years ago; searched for A.K.
| Comments:
| Your books, "No Contest" and "Punished by Rewards," have
been crucial to my defining my own value system. I first read them when I
was in the for-profit consulting world, and afterwards, I grew
increasingly ill-at-ease with participating in Capitalism. You helped me
to understand why. I now work for the Church, and I am more at home. Many,
many thanks!
|
|
Date:
| Mon Jul 19 23:14:23 2004
| Name:
| Rotiss
| E-mail:
| Rotiss@hushmail.com
| Organization:
|
| Location:
|
| How the site | was found: searching for ABA schools
| Comments:
| I just happened across this website, it appears that once
again, poor exegesis has been done on behaviorism. I suggest first of all
properly identifying reinforcers as a feature of behaviorism. This is
common in research for cognitive psychologists or linguists to equate
reward with reinforcement. Might I suggest Lovaas "Teaching Individuals
with Developmental Delays", or just a acreful review of the works of
Skinner, or any of the excellent websites on ABA to get a grasp on the
concepts.
|
|
Date:
| Sun Jul 18 05:39:38 2004
| Name:
| Annie Mills
| E-mail:
| annielephant@aol.com
| Organization:
| Home
| Location:
| Lancashire
| How the site | was found: Researching Behaviour on the Internet
| Comments:
| Your work has made me think about how i teach my chidren.
|
|
Date:
| Sun Jul 18 05:35:35 2004
| Name:
| Annie Mills
| E-mail:
| annielephant@aol.com
| Organization:
| Home
| Location:
| Lancashire
| How the site | was found: Researching Behaviour on the Internet
| Comments:
|
|
|
Date:
| Sat Jul 17 13:32:07 2004
| Name:
| Robert Tschabold
| E-mail:
| robertzzz@earthlink.net
| Organization:
| sudent
| Location:
| Washington
| How the site | was found: Google search
| Comments:
| Thank you
|
|
Date:
| Wed Jul 14 21:34:17 2004
| Name:
| Marc Jason Abundo
| E-mail:
| dalston_5@yahoo.com
| Organization:
| none
| Location:
| Philippines
| How the site | was found: web search
| Comments:
| The facts in your website are sooooooooo amazing! keep up
the good work
|
|
Date:
| Wed Jul 14 17:49:21 2004
| Name:
| maga
| E-mail:
| mrsxeko@epatra.com
| Organization:
|
| Location:
|
| How the site | was found: google
| Comments:
| i just want to say kudos to your site
|
|
Date:
| Mon Jul 12 00:18:46 2004
| Name:
| David DeVore
| E-mail:
| twyllyn@hotmail.com
| Organization:
|
| Location:
| Sacramento, CA
| How the site | was found: Google
| Comments:
| If I was to grade Kohn's book on behaviorism in the
classroom, I'd give it an F. But, since he does not believe in grades,
I'll give it a summary of failure: his logic is skewed, his evidence is
nonexistent (he constantly quotes the fabled "data shows..."), and
competition is healthy. People who only like collaborative work are
fearful and cannot stand alone easily.
|
|
Date:
| Sun Jul 11 15:27:04 2004
| Name:
| Gerald W. Richardson
| E-mail:
| g2480@swbell.net
| Organization:
| Holy Savior Catholic Academy
| Location:
| 1432 N. Erie St. Wichita, KS 67214
| How the site | was found: I ran a search on the net
| Comments:
| I am currently enrolled in a Master's program at Newman
University in Wichita, KS and wanted to learn more about Mr. Kohn. We are
using "The Schools our Children Deserve" as a required text and many of us
(students) wanted to learn more about Mr. Kohn (has he ever taught and if
so where and what grade level?), (what schools are currently using the
methods he wrote about and what are their sucess rates?)
|
|
Date:
| Fri Jul 9 16:12:39 2004
| Name:
| lynne rerucha
| E-mail:
| lynnewrites@yahoo.com
| Organization:
| university of northern colorado grad student
| Location:
| littleton co
| How the site | was found: GOOGLE
| Comments:
| doing research about the negative aspects of Accelerated
Reader...the nasty thing is gaining popularity...what can we do???
|
|
Date:
| Mon Jul 5 00:26:08 2004
| Name:
| jean richards
| E-mail:
| jeanrichards74@hotmail.com
| Organization:
| st teresa's mercy school
| Location:
| johannesburg south africa
| How the site | was found: searching for arguments against competition
| Comments:
| halelulah!!!!!
|
|
Date:
| Wed Jun 30 12:41:43 2004
| Name:
| rachel breeding
| E-mail:
| maisydaisy@aol.com
| Organization:
|
| Location:
| commerce twp., MI
| How the site | was found: friends
| Comments:
| i love this site and i really like you ideas and all your
books you guys have published and all the ones you've made. love ya got to
go bye!
|
|
Date:
| Tue Jun 29 14:22:29 2004
| Name:
| Sharon McLennan
| E-mail:
| sam@actionnet.net
| Organization:
|
| Location:
| Central Oregon coast
| How the site | was found: article in Hope, sent me by a friend
| Comments:
| I am in agreement with your ideas about testing. I am
writing a book on not only the detrimental effects of the standardized
testing movement, but the sham of public education as a whole. The book
consists to a great extent of surreptitious input by an experienced
teacher who has been substituting and recording student comments and
activities as they happen.
|
|
Date:
| Mon Jun 28 17:53:43 2004
| Name:
| Christina Nicolson
| E-mail:
| c_nicolson@400pleasant.com
| Organization:
| Math Smart and Eliot Montessori School
| Location:
| Belmont and South Natick
| How the site | was found: back book cover of What Does It Mean....
| Comments:
| Dear Alfie Kohn: My friend, Arthur Levine of TC, suggested
that I contact you. Since I won the Presidential Award for Excellence in
Science and Mathematics Teaching, I have been trying to "reimagine"
elementary school goals through work for the DOE, publishers,
presentations, and teacher training. One of my goals that I often realize
in tutoring is guiding inquisitive students to become life-long learners.
My out-spoken beliefs and creativity about how to educate young people
caused two school administrators to feel threatened and thwarted. Now I am
co-teaching at Eliot Montessori, where I am seeing at least 20 of your 25
"good signs" (Ed. Lead.) being realized. Is there any way that I share
with you any examples of "good signs?" Here is a presumptuous
thought...Since my guru, Greg Tang, and I live in Belmont, would we be
able to get together for a few minutes? I feel the urgency to take some
significant action to stem the tide of privatization and loss of bright
educators. Can I join forces with you? How? Alas, when offered the
opportunity to interview for position of Math Coordinator for
Massachusetts, I declined. If you can eke out any time, call me at
617-489-0686. I would like to be able to pass on something to Barbara
Libby, DOE Director, when we meet soon. Your fellow reimaginer, Christina
Nicolson
|
|
Date:
| Mon Jun 28 04:41:34 2004
| Name:
| Cheryl Stilwell
| E-mail:
| cherylstilwell@hotmail.com
| Organization:
| just a teacher
| Location:
| Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada
| How the site | was found: back of book cover
| Comments:
| I attended the CTF Conference in Ottawa in May 2004 and
have been excited ever since. After 20 years of feeling "something is
wrong with all this" I now know exactly what it is. Hopefully I can begin
to make a real difference in the lives of students. Thank you.
|
|
Date:
| Sat Jun 26 03:04:07 2004
| Name:
| Catherine
| E-mail:
|
| Organization:
|
| Location:
| Canada
| How the site | was found: Interested in finding out so did a Yahoo Search
| Comments:
| I have recently read a few of Alfie Kohn's books,as well as
viewing videos. It frustrates me, as so much of what he says has been said
before. If we look at Montesori she felt that we should engage children in
activities. Why does Kohn still have to tell this and other ideas to
Teachers, Administration, Governments etc? As I continue in the teaching
field. I hope to make a difference!
|
|
Date:
| Sat Jun 26 00:59:06 2004
| Name:
| mayowa
| E-mail:
| mayowa_ahmad@yahoo.com
| Organization:
| student
| Location:
| nigeria
| How the site | was found: TIG
| Comments:
| I want to be part of your members
|
|
Date:
| Wed Jun 23 05:00:33 2004
| Name:
| Gerald A. Bolek, Human Services Coordinator-Clinician
| E-mail:
| gbolek@scettc.org
| Organization:
| Somerset County Vo-Tech. High School, School-Based Youth
Services
| Location:
| New Jersey
| How the site | was found: hrough researching W. Glasser's Choice Theory
| Comments:
| Dear Dr. Khon, A most delightfully refreshing approach to
gaining a meaningful perspective on the naturally perennial unfolding of
Human beings and how we, (as careing facilitators), can best encourage,
preserve, and enhance this inately driven process in a non-imposing
manner. Thank you so much!
|
|
Date:
| Mon Jun 21 13:15:33 2004
| Name:
| tina kafka
| E-mail:
| tkafka7935@aol.com
| Organization:
| explorer elementary charter school
| Location:
| san diego
| How the site | was found: longtime admirer of alfie kohn
| Comments:
| I am the curriculum coordinator and science teacher at a
small charter school (Explorer Elementary Charter School) in san diego. My
husband teaches first grade there. Our school embraces much of the
philosophy espoused by alfie kohn, shelley harwayne and many others. We
believe strongly that academic achievement is related to a strong feeling
of community within the classroom and the school as a whole. We have a
social-emotional curriculum, high academic standards, and a pervasive
feeling of engagement and joy for learning at our school. We are writing a
manual for our teachers this summer to make tangible some of the
intangibles that account for our success. Our school was the ONLY
elementary school in the San Diego Unified School District to be named as
a Calif. State Distinguished School, but more than that, children,
teachers, and parents love to come to school each day.
|
|
Date:
| Thu Jun 17 16:35:59 2004
| Name:
| LISA ZANDER
| E-mail:
| none
| Organization:
| occupation/ barber
| Location:
| MIDDLETOWN, OHIO 45042
| How the site | was found: LOOKED IT UP ON WEB SEARCH.
| Comments:
| I ENJOYED YOUR BOOK "PUNISHED BY REWARDS"; AS I'VE BEEN
STUDYING UP ON "HOME SCHOOLING" I CAME ACROSS YOUR BOOK AND READ IT. YOUR
IDEAS AND BELIEFS ARE GOOD AND INTERESTING.. IS IT POSSIBLE TO CORRESPOND
BY "MAIL" SINCE I DO NOT HAVE A COMPUTER? MY MAILING ADDRESS IS: MS. LISA
ZANDER PO BOX 1491 MIDDLETOWN, OHIO 45042 I AM READING YOUR BOOK A SECOND
TIME AND PLAN TO READ "NO CONTEST"....
|
|
Date:
| Thu Jun 17 10:32:33 2004
| Name:
| Bridget Hannah
| E-mail:
| Hannah2000@comporium.net
| Organization:
| Winthrop University
| Location:
| Rock Hill, SC
| How the site | was found: professor
| Comments:
| Thanks for visiting us on Wednesday at Winthrop University.
I am an Aspiring Leadership Academy student and I learned a great deal.
More importantly, I was forced to do a self-evaluation of my practices in
the classroom. After reflecting, I concluded that my best year was my
first year of teaching. I had no clue about standards, but I just taught
what I felt my kids needed and it worked. Thanks for your insight. Hannah
|
|
Date:
| Wed Jun 16 13:26:44 2004
| Name:
| Bob Costello
| E-mail:
| bobcostello@safersanerschools.org
| Organization:
| SaferSanerSchools
| Location:
| Bethlehem, PA
| How the site | was found: Article from colleague
| Comments:
| Wonderful content. Informative site. I'll be back to read
more!
|
|
Date:
| Mon Jun 14 15:03:09 2004
| Name:
| H Pettersson
| E-mail:
| holliep@updc.org
| Organization:
| University of Utah
| Location:
| Salt Lake City, Utah
| How the site | was found: Google
| Comments:
| How does Mr. Kohn sleep at night knowing that he is taking
advantage of one of the most underpaid and overextended factions of our
society, TEACHERS... I think "Punished By Rewards" has done more damage
for American Education as it encourages us as educators to NOT BE
POSITIVE. Positivity is one of the strongest interventions, it is one of
the few tools that we as educators have, and Mr. Kohn makes us feel bad
for using it. That's the SHAME of American education, that someone like
Mr. Kohn is allowed to make a very decent living on the backs of
educators.
|
|
Date:
| Sat Jun 12 14:56:10 2004
| Name:
| Laura H. Chapman
| E-mail:
| chapmanLH@aol.com
| Organization:
|
| Location:
| Cincinnati, OH
| How the site | was found: AOL search
| Comments:
| Bravo on the most recent (April, 04)Kappan article re: NCLB
and test-em-til they drop. Just did a major paper on NCLB, forthcoming in
Arts Education Policy Review, a field where the effects are just being
noticed.Also did an exercise several yearsago on "free-market" arts
education. Most folks thought I was out of my mind. Few see the larger
picture.
|
|
Date:
| Thu Jun 10 11:10:44 2004
| Name:
| Thomas Joyce
| E-mail:
| stock7@papower.net
| Organization:
| Bloomsburg University
| Location:
| Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania
| How the site | was found: Professor recommended it
| Comments:
|
|
|
Date:
| Wed Jun 9 10:17:14 2004
| Name:
| Carmen Taylor
| E-mail:
| carmen_taylor@skc.edu
| Organization:
| National Indian School Board Association
| Location:
| Polson, MT
| How the site | was found: from reading an article
| Comments:
|
|
|
Date:
| Wed Jun 9 03:28:21 2004
| Name:
| Miffy Tomlinson
| E-mail:
|
| Organization:
|
| Location:
| Wales UK
| How the site | was found: websearch
| Comments:
| Impressed is not an adequate word!!!! In Wales we have a
devolved government (i.e although still connected to the UK government our
Assembly is able to make many of its own decisions) SATS has been phased
out for 7 year olds and will probably be phased out by 2008 for eleven
year olds (hope I've got my facts straight) They are also introducing a
foundation stage for 3-7 year olds where they will learn through play. My
kids are both under 7 so I am so glad I live here. Not everyone is so
enlightened though. after chasing through hoops to get to grips with the
changes in education, SATS, National Curriculum, Teacher performance
management etc. the governors of our local primary school have heartily
jumped on the bandwagon and don't see the new changes as a good thing. The
headteacher 'has seen it all before' 'fashionable progressive' 'and look
what a mess that was' I don't think even a copy of one of your books would
help!!
|
|
Date:
| Sat May 29 17:25:31 2004
| Name:
| Rosario DiDonna
| E-mail:
| RosarioDiDonna@aol.com
| Organization:
| NJEA-New Jersey Educational Association
| Location:
| New Jersey
| How the site | was found: In,The Schools Our Children Deserve
| Comments:
| Finally a writer and educator that gets it. Kohn's
perspectives and insights on America's educational system hits the
bullseye.
|
|
Date:
| Sat May 29 07:15:23 2004
| Name:
| Alexander Evans
| E-mail:
|
| Organization:
| Teaching Student
| Location:
| UC Canberra Australia
| How the site | was found: in the subject text book
| Comments:
| Even the briefest of familiarity with Alfie Kohn's work has
fundamentaly changed the way I think about education. Not only does it
explain a lot about my own feelings going through school and university,
Alfie's work has influenced my personal goals as a future teacher. Thank
you.
|
|
Date:
| Sun May 2 19:30:38 2004
| Name:
| Meghann Lambert
| E-mail:
| Meghann830@yahoo.com
| Organization:
|
| Location:
| Colorado
| How the site | was found: yahoo search
| Comments:
|
|
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