{"id":1084,"date":"2020-04-25T17:12:26","date_gmt":"2020-04-25T07:12:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/effectivebehaviourmanagement.com.au\/?p=1084"},"modified":"2022-03-28T10:20:44","modified_gmt":"2022-03-28T00:20:44","slug":"give-the-kid-a-pen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/effectivebehaviourmanagement.com.au\/give-the-kid-a-pen\/","title":{"rendered":"Give the kid a pen"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
There\u2019s a story that is well known by many teachers. A university lecturer instructing a class of student teachers asked them a question. \u201cIf a kid came to class without a pencil, what would you do?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Firstly, the student teachers discussed in groups how they would handle this situation. Various solutions were suggested. Most involved some form of collateral in exchange for the pencil being returned. One suggestion was that the kid gave the teacher a shoe in return for the pencil. They would get their shoe back when they returned the pencil at the end of the lesson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finally, once all these suggestions were made, the lecturer asked: \u201cWhy not just give the kid a pencil?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some argued there should be some form of punishment for a lack of responsibility. Others argued that the kid would take advantage of the situation,. That providing a pen would reinforce bad behaviour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The lecturer argued that considering some of the challenges kids face in their daily lives, not having a pencil is a minor issue . The problem could be easily fixed. He said he would give the kid a pencil – first time and every time, and I completely agree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reprinted with permission of Teaching Tolerance, a project of the Southern Poverty Law Center. www.tolerance.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n