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You Are Not Special
June 19, 2012
Las cosas claras y el chocolate espeso.
(Ideas should be clear and chocolate thick.)
-Spanish proverb
-Spanish proverb
"Climb the mountain, not to plant your flag, but to embrace the challenge, to enjoy the air, to behold the view. Climb it to see the world, not for the world to see you."
As with last week's YouTube link, we invite you to view this address and then come back here, scroll down, and share your reactions.
Beginnings Workshop: Motivation
Beginnings Workshop is an invaluable resource for staff training. In each 16 page unit the top experts in the field address a specific curriculum topic in depth. 
Motivating Staff - by Sue Baldwin
Fortune Cookie Philosophy: Using Motivation Effectively With Young Children - by Tricia S. Kruse
The Director’s Role in Creating Community - by Michael Koetje and Peter Blair
Becoming a Self-Mentor - by Paula Jorde Bloom
Training Suggestions - by Kay Albrecht
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sce-earlychildhood.uwm.edu
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Earn your Certificate in Child Care Administration Online
Comments (47)
Displaying 5 of 47 Comments [ View all ]NY, United States
I ditto Paula's comments as I have contributed to "I am special" mentality versus we all are unique and need to share our gifts and make a difference becasue it is the just, fair, honest and care giving (versus care taking) thing to do.
Wellesley, MA, United States
I think he's right on! Children today feel that they are special because we (mistakenly) give them kudos for every little thing so that no one 'feels badly.'
United States
I am sad to admit that I am of the generation who used the outward motivation of praise, rewards and "your special" to get children to do what they should have been encouraged to do from internal motivation. All those 101 ways to praise your child, your special and good job external doggy bones and the reward method of do this and we will go buy you a toy, created a generation of people who perform only for the prize or choose not to even try unless there is something in it for them. I am sorry to be part of the generation who contributed to the current age of entitlement which makes people unable to see beyond themselves.
I think the speech was an attempt to get a new generation to think and to choose what they do because it is right and because it makes a difference. I do not think most people understand that if we do everything for our children they do not learn to think or solve problems for themselves. If we raise them on a diet of external motivation they will never be people of character whose world is bigger than themselves.
Lititz, PA, United States
Thank you for including this in the Exchange newsletter. I cannot agree with the speaker more. Over the past 25 years I have experienced the great change in young adults and young children. The sense of entitlement and demand that "someone do this for me" has grown to epidemic proportions. Thank you to Dr. McCullough for your words. Please keep teaching children and, perhaps, teach parents and teachers.
Exchange Press
United States
UPDATE: The original link to David McCullough, Jr.'s speech has been removed from YouTube by the user. We have updated the link on our website. Here you can read the full text of the speech and, if you scroll down, you can also view the video.
http://www.theswellesleyreport.com/2012/06/wellesley-high-grads-told-youre-not-special/
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