Self-esteem is a buzz word everywhere, especially in the classroom. Yet what does it really mean? I believe self-esteem and ego are having an identity crisis.
Watch any worthwhile team sports movie like Coach Carter and Remember the Titans and you see it play out the correct way: you destroy the ego so that you can build self-esteem.
Self-esteem is not:
Giving a student a passing grade because you are worried about lawsuits.
Self-esteem is:
Helping the student face the reality of a failed exam but working with that student to improve on the next exam.
Self-esteem is not:
Giving a student a verbal “warning” after he or she confronts another student in an intimidating way hoping to incite fear and superiority over the victimized student.
Self-esteem is:
Bringing the parents into a conference and stating to the parents in a firm but fair way that the child made a bad or wrong decision and in order to get back into class, that student MUST receive punishment so that the child seriously reflects on the decision. You are saying, “we care enough about you to learn a lesson.”
We need to separate ego from self-esteem!
