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The Importance of Developing Attitudes
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Of all the areas of learning the most important
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is the development of attitudes.
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Emotional reactions as well as logical thought processes
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affect the behavior of most people.
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“The burnt child fears the fire” is one instance;
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another is the rise of figures like Hitler.
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Both these examples also point up the fact
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that attitudes come from experience.
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In the one case the experience is direct and impressive,
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in the other it is indirect and gradual.
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The class room teacher in the elementary school
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is in strategic position to influence attitudes.
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This is true partly because children acquire attitudes
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from those adults whose words they respect.
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Another reason why it is true
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is that pupils often search somewhat deeply into a subject in school
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that has only been touched upon at home
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or has possibly never occurred to them before.
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To a child who had previously acquired little knowledge of Mexico,
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his teacher’s method of handling
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such a unit would greatly affect his attitude toward Mexicans.
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The teacher can develop proper attitudes
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through social studies, science matters,
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the very atmosphere of the classroom, etc.
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However, when children come to school with undesirable attitudes,
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it is unwise to attempt to change their feelings
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by criticizing them.
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The teacher can achieve the proper effect
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by helping them obtain constructive experience.
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To illustrate, first-grade pupils,
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afraid of policemen will probably change their attitudes
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after a classroom talk with the neighborhood officer
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in which he explains how he protects them.
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In the same way, a class of older children
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can develop attitudes through discussion,
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research and all-day trips.
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Finally, a teacher must constantly evaluate his own attitudes,
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because his influence can be harmful
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if he has personal prejudices.
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This is especially true
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in respect to controversial issues and questions
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of which children should be encouraged to reach their own conclusion
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as result of objective analysis of all the facts.