How Can Students Be Motivated: A Misplaced Question?

• DOI: 10.3200/tchs.81.2.81-86
• Publication Date: 2007-12-21T17:06:10Z
• Authors: Richard F. Bowman
• Keywords: 4. Education; 05 social sciences; 0503 education

Great teachers understand the fundamental difference between motivation and inspiration: motivation is self-focused and inspiration is other focused. Exceptional teachers guide students to greatness by inspiring them to discover where their talents and passions intersect. For today's besieged classroom teacher, the desire to motivate students often springs from a place of self-concern: "I want to change your behavior with a reward or incentive so that, if you meet the targets or goals I set for you, this will help me meet my own needs and goals." Students are highly motivated to perform when they first come to school. The question is not "how can students be motivated?" but rather, "how can educators be deterred from diminishing—even destroying—student motivation and morale through their policies and practices?"