"To actually start an educational institution based on this principle sounds like pernicious nonsense -- in the children's apparent short-term interest, maybe, but disastrous for them in the long term. "
Robert A. Heinlein makes a similar point on how externally applied discipline does not automatically foster self-discipline in (of all places) Starship Troopers. Basically, by imposing discipline upon a person, they will only remained disciplined as long as that external coercive force is applied. In the absence of authority, they will revert or even rebel. Only when a person is self-disciplined will they continue to behave responsibly in the absence of authority. So an educational system that imposes discipline without inculcating it within their students, is (as you point out), disastrous in the long term.
Mind, I'm writing this in the morning, and on a day off. Catch me after a bad day at work, and I will favor coercive authority. One sees a lot of stupid, self-destructive behavior in what are supposed to be "responsible adults."
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timeasmymeasure
You raise an interesting point.
Date: 2007-12-28 04:20 pm (UTC)Robert A. Heinlein makes a similar point on how externally applied discipline does not automatically foster self-discipline in (of all places) Starship Troopers. Basically, by imposing discipline upon a person, they will only remained disciplined as long as that external coercive force is applied. In the absence of authority, they will revert or even rebel. Only when a person is self-disciplined will they continue to behave responsibly in the absence of authority. So an educational system that imposes discipline without inculcating it within their students, is (as you point out), disastrous in the long term.
Mind, I'm writing this in the morning, and on a day off. Catch me after a bad day at work, and I will favor coercive authority. One sees a lot of stupid, self-destructive behavior in what are supposed to be "responsible adults."