Gould tells New York Times about good coaching techniques

mehringe — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 14:09:35 +0000

In a New York Times opinion piece published on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2011, writer David Bornstein raised several questions about the emphasized values of youth sports, and the coaching methods that go along with them. While Bornstein and several surveyed parents agree that sports should focus on teamwork, honesty, discipline and fair play, they also said that the sports instead promote competitiveness and the importance of winning.

Daniel Gould, kinesiology professor and director of the Institute for the Study of Youth Sports at Michigan State University, suggested that when coaches and parents focus on “outcomes or social comparisons” as opposed to self-improvement, youth sport players will participate less and decrease their skill development. He also added that evaluation of youth sport programs should be based on participation and retention rates — not wins and losses. The key questions, he said, should be: How many kids started the season, how many ended it and how many wanted to come back the next year?

Socol urges teachers, students to reflect on 9/11 in the classroom

mehringe — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 15:00:44 +0000

Nearly ten years have passed since the horrific events that occurred on September 11, 2001. This upcoming Sunday will be a day of remembrance and unity for millions of Americans who witnessed the events first-hand or on live television. But what of today’s children, who were either too young to comprehend the day’s importance or not yet born?

Ira David Socol, a Ph.D. graduate student in special education at the Michigan State University College of Education, reminds educators everywhere that it is crucial for students to reflect on the terrorist attacks that forever changed the world.

In a blog post for the New York Times, “Why September 11 Must Be in Our Classrooms,” Socol and co-writer Pamela Moran argue that teachers and students must examine the attacks in critical, multidimensional ways in order to preserve the day’s historical significance.

“We must engage our young people in the construction of history,” they wrote. “In this century, we are all historians, researching, comprehending, assembling, reporting and storytelling.”

College of Education News » new york times

Gould tells New York Times about good coaching techniques

Socol urges teachers, students to reflect on 9/11 in the classroom