Praise the child only when it is deserved
He said emotional maturity was vital for teachers as part of the solution to this ever-increasing problem of classroom disruption.
Tony has written in the past that parents can only bring their children to the same level of emotional maturity that they themselves have reached.
It is vital that those of us who are privileged with the awesome responsibility of shaping the next generation are aware that, be it good or bad, we always carry baggage from our past.
I knew a man who up to the age of 18 believed he was the greatest thing since sliced bread.
His father was forever praising him, no matter what he did.
He got the land of his life when he went to college only to discover that the rest of the world did not have the same high opinion of him.
After a couple of traumatic years, he learned, to the benefit of his own children, that when giving praise it was healthier to applaud behaviour that deserved credit rather than blanket praise for everything that was done. A truer sense of ‘self’ was achieved this way.
Keep up the good work, Tony; parents and teachers are indebted to you.
Jim Jackman
PRO
Parents Associations of Community and Comprehensive Schools
16 Park Drive Court
Castleknock
Dublin 15
