Skinner is highly critical of current educational practices, and argues that they do not produce a lasting love of learning. "Suppose we wish to teach a student to read 'good books'- books which do not reinforce the reader sentence by sentence or even paragraph by paragraph, but only when hundreds of pages have prepared him for a convincing denouement. The student must be exposed to a program of materials that builds up a tendency to read in the absence of reinforcement. [But] schools are likely to arrange just the wrong conditions, [as by forcing] books on students before they have had adequate preparation. It is therefore not surprising that few students even in good universities learn to read books of this sort and do so for the rest of their lives" \((1968, \mathrm{p.79}) .\) What is your evaluation of Skinner's criticism?

Step by step solution

01

Understanding Skinner's Arguments

Review Skinner's presented arguments. He is critical of modern educational practices, arguing they do not instil a lasting love of learning. He believes that students are forced to read complex books before they're sufficiently prepared. This, he proposes, leads to a lack of enjoyment and a limited habit of reading such books later in life.

02

Developing your Evaluation

Collect thoughts about Skinner's criticisms. Do they seem accurate? Are there exceptions which contradict his claims? Look for evidence to counter or support his assessment.

03

Writing your Evaluation

Write your evaluation of Skinner's critique in an organized manner. Start by summarizing his argument, then present your stance. Whether you agree or disagree, provide reasoning and evidence for your viewpoint. Include any observations of educational practices that might support or challenge Skinner's perspective.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

• Full Textbook Solutions

  Get detailed explanations and key concepts

• Unlimited Al creation

  Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

• Ads-free access

  To over 500 millions flashcards

• Money-back guarantee

  We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!