When I was an undergraduate, I spent my first two years as a chemistry major before switching over to psychology. My initial science requirements were quite extensive and, after switching to psychology, I had to "make-up" a little bit of lost time for the psych. requirements. In addition, we were all required to take a prescribed number of liberal arts courses (general education courses). I doubt if I would have taken the art course I took back then if it had not been "required" (I had to take LOTS of other, major-related courses in which I was much more interested). Over the past two years, I have donated artwork to charity auctions which have raised over $500 and just sold my first piece independently for which I received the cash ;-) I have served for years on the Board of Directors for Sculpture Space (the only paid sculptor residency program in the country) and recently taught a course entitled "Psychology & The Visual Arts". The point of all this is that my being required to take liberal arts courses (including art) did not necessarily negate the effect of whetting my thirst. In fact, I would strongly argue that it planted an important seed in both my personal life and my professional development. I am very thankful to have been required to take that course. I used to take a strong stand that making something required makes it useless as internal motivation... but the reality, per usual, is much more complex than that.
Cheers, -S Louis_Schmier wrote: > Herb, I fully agree. We do have to "salt their oats." But, motivation > is not something you do to a person. Like Carl Rogers said, you can no > more motivate a person than you can teach him or her. So, do you think > the requirements we've been reading is a tasy seasoning to the students to > become those enticed lovers of learning? > > Make it a good day. > > --Louis-- > > Louis Schmier www.therandomthoughts.com > Department of History www.halcyon.com/arborhts/louis.html > Valdosta State University > Valdosta, Georgia 31698 /~\ /\ /\ > (229-333-5947) /^\ / \ / /~ \ /~\__/\ > / \__/ \/ / /\ /~ \ > /\/\-/ /^\___\______\_______/__/_______/^\ > -_~ / "If you want to climb mountains, \ /^\ > _ _ / don't practice on mole hills" -\____ > > --- > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Steven M. Specht, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Psychology Department of Psychology Utica College Utica, NY 13502 (315) 792-3171 "unanswered questions are less dangerous than unquestioned answers" --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
