I have heard teachers give it up after a single attempt, saying, ‘Children cannot behave responsibly,’ then remove all further opportunity for students to practice and grow in their responsible behavior. I have also heard teachers say, ‘Children cannot think for themselves,’ and proceed thereafter to do children’s thinking for them. But these same teachers would never say, ‘These children cannot read by themselves,’ and thereafter remove any opportunity for them to learn to read.
– Selma Wassermann, as quoted by Alfie Kohn (1996)
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