Behavior Policies Treat Students Like Pets
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Behavior policies are the only area of education not based on theory. Schools instead use a behaviorist approach similar to training a pet dog. Students are “trained” to be rewarded by good behavior and disciplined for bad behavior until it stops. When dealing with 30 students in a classroom all with distinct personalities, this general treatment is exposed as ineffective.
The study by Dr. Payne is the first of its kind and will need to be vetted and backed by more studies. She hopes, at the very least, her work will inspire her peers to dig deeper into better educational approaches and practices. One of those practices preached today is mindfulness education and meditation.
