08-11-2011, 12:41 AM
Mike,
I'm not convinced by the article.
My experience of teaching many different games and sports from Primary 1 through to Secondary 6 is that there are definitely people with more talent at certain things than others. The question I've always been interested in having observed that is why that is the case?
My own answer is that some of this is bestowed at birth!! I don't think that comments to a young child that is obviously good at something that they are 'a natural' is a negative comment. I think that creates belief in that individual. Yes, ofcourse 'Coaches' are useful and a good coach will help a talented child develop, but I saw many children when I was coaching/teaching who were hugely limited by my abilities as a coach and others abilities as coaches. If they had the right coach or perhaps just the right environment their natural talent may develop more quickly. Ofcourse the SIS is putting the top coaches at certain sports into coaching the top talent and the chances of them being limited by the coaches is less but! the truly exceptional talent needs freedom to develop that talent and won't respond well to being
told that the talent is insignificant or being with people who may diminish their belief in their talent by saying that all that's needed is a good coach and effort.
There appear contradictions in the logic of the article. Belief in one's talent and ability are pivotal to people having the desire to pursue maximising their ability by effort and challenging themselves to progress.
I've always been interested in how youngsters acquire new skill and develop ability and the relationship between teacher and pupil is ofcourse very important but people should never lose sight of who is doing the
learning and developing.
Angus
I'm not convinced by the article.
My experience of teaching many different games and sports from Primary 1 through to Secondary 6 is that there are definitely people with more talent at certain things than others. The question I've always been interested in having observed that is why that is the case?
My own answer is that some of this is bestowed at birth!! I don't think that comments to a young child that is obviously good at something that they are 'a natural' is a negative comment. I think that creates belief in that individual. Yes, ofcourse 'Coaches' are useful and a good coach will help a talented child develop, but I saw many children when I was coaching/teaching who were hugely limited by my abilities as a coach and others abilities as coaches. If they had the right coach or perhaps just the right environment their natural talent may develop more quickly. Ofcourse the SIS is putting the top coaches at certain sports into coaching the top talent and the chances of them being limited by the coaches is less but! the truly exceptional talent needs freedom to develop that talent and won't respond well to being
told that the talent is insignificant or being with people who may diminish their belief in their talent by saying that all that's needed is a good coach and effort.
There appear contradictions in the logic of the article. Belief in one's talent and ability are pivotal to people having the desire to pursue maximising their ability by effort and challenging themselves to progress.
I've always been interested in how youngsters acquire new skill and develop ability and the relationship between teacher and pupil is ofcourse very important but people should never lose sight of who is doing the
learning and developing.
Angus