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MOTIVATING STUDENTS WHO DON’T CARE
furniture, and block electrical outlets to contain their child’s curiosity. And usually, most young children can’t wait for their first day of school to arrive.
Why Some Students Are Unmotivated Increasing motivation and minimizing behavior problems remain at or near the top concerns expressed by educators. Virtually every classroom has students who expect success but are unwilling to work for it. During this age of abundance and entitlement, guilt can lead parents to give materially to their children without attaching expectations. Expectations of entitlement are easy to acquire in a culture that too often values what we have rather than who we are. A Maryland-based consumer group found that children learn to nag their parents nine times on average for products advertised on television before getting what they want (Seith, 2017). Even many with limited means feel pressured to get the latest two-hundred-dollar sneakers or newest phone with the most elaborate bells and whistles. When fast and easy replaces work and earn, and parents prioritize their children feeling good about themselves over resilience, persistence, and effort, school can give children a rude awakening, since success at school— and in life—requires preparation, practice, and perseverance. Some students shut down to school because they feel disconnected and see being unproductive as a pathway toward acceptance. For example, a newly arrived English learner (EL), who may be angry and resentful at being removed from familiar surroundings, may find easier acceptance from peers similarly struggling to find their way. Others find learning difficult and may stop working to hide feelings of inadequacy. Many students with an “I-don’t-care” attitude are actually afraid to care because they don’t believe they can succeed. For some students, being viewed as unmotivated or “bad” is preferable to being seen as “stupid.” Some students find power and control in their refusal to work. They may be competent and capable, but their need to be in control is so strong that they employ a self-defeating strategy to express their independence.
