Learning and Self-Esteem the Main Purpose of

Learning and Self-Esteem The main purpose of Alfie Kohn's article "The Truth about Self-Esteem" is to provide a critique of existing literature and prevailing beliefs about the importance of self-esteem on children's learning. The author points out key problems with the debate between pro-self-esteem educators and the more traditional, "old school" view that self-esteem is irrelevant. Kohn asserts that neither position is totally satisfactory and offers some ideas for more constructive approaches to the subject.

The literature review, which is arranged and presented more like an essay than a proper literature review, deals with the limitations of scientific research, with the problem of focusing on self-esteem as opposed to selflessness, and with the problems with Old School education as well. After presenting a review of the literature concurrent with his personal stance on the issues, Kohn concludes that more fruitful research should be conducted if the goal is to improve children's learning abilities and general well-being.

The author organizes his literature review into three main sections, plus an introduction and conclusion. The introduction presents the problem to be discussed in broad terms and sets the tone for the remainder of the article. Part One, called The Facts: What the Research Says (and Doesn't Say) is sub-divided to denote several major categories of related research, including The Measurement of Self-Esteem; Self-Esteem and Social Behavior; Self-Esteem and Academic Achievement; Self-Esteem Programs; and the Meaning of Disappointing Data.

This section of the article contains the bulk of the literature review proper; the remainder of the article contains more personal commentary. Part Two, called The Values: Why the Emphasis on Self-Esteem is Troubling challenges the desirability of studying self-esteem in the first place. In particular, the author asserts that too much emphasis on self-esteem encourages unhealthy self-absorption. Part Three is called The Critics: Missing the Point.

This section balances Kohn's delineation of the drawbacks of lauding self-esteem with a criticism of Old School educators who feel that schools should be all about rote learning and standardized testing. Finally, in a conclusion to the article, Kohn summarizes his main points and concludes that neither pro-self-esteem nor anti-self-esteem approaches are helpful to offering solutions to a troubled educational system. As a traditional literature review, Kohn's article falls short because the author inserts too much personal bias.

Moreover, the author offers few hard examples from the immense body of literature he refers to in the critique. However, the literature review is interesting to read as a philosophical essay so as a literature review would rate about seven on a scale of one to ten because of the dearth of proper source citations from scientific literature. For Kohn to improve his literature review, he should actually cite directly from scientific literature instead of vaguely alluding to studies.

Furthermore, he should resist offering so much subjective analysis and instead demonstrate a more objective, impartial approach toward the subject matter. Finally,.