Before we expunge James as a poor exponent of excellence in teaching, (no
one has done that specifically) read the following within the context of
our recent and ongoing discussions of teaching:
"We have of late been hearing much of the philosophy of tenderness in
education; 'interest' must be assiduously awakened in everything,
difficulties must be smoothed away. Soft pedagogics have taken the place of
the old steep and rocky path to learning. But from this lukewarm air the
bracing oxygen of effort is left out. It is nonsense to suppose that every
step in education can be interesting. The fighting impulse must often be
appealed to. A victory scored under such conditions becomes a turning point
and crisis of character."
-William James
Tim S.
_______________________________________________________
Timothy O. Shearon, PhD
Albertson College of Idaho
Department of Psychology
2112 Cleveland Blvd
Caldwell, Idaho
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
208-459-5840
