The Difference Between a Pupil and a Student

One of the main goals of education is the development of good habits...ones that will carry over to the students' lives, and especially the work place. With good work habits a person, no matter what his "intelligence", will have a much better chance to be successful in life. Isn't this really the overall purpose of formal education? In the work place, habits many times count as much to the boss as ability.

Habits can be learned (and therefore taught)...both good and bad. Usually bad habits come naturally. Good habits come automatically to some fortunate people (but, sometimes too late), but not to the majority...especially young people. Frankly, they must be taught good habits, and it is not that difficult for a parent or educator to do so if he/she presents a model for the children to conceptualize...and does this consistently, and early enough. This model, should delineate good habits, and their corresponding opposites so that the learner can strive for the good, and eliminate the bad. A good method in elementary school, therefore, is for the teacher to present a chart of good and corresponding bad habits (or behaviors) that the child can exhibit in school in order to do well...and have the children evaluate themselves on a scale of 1-100. Then the children will know in which areas they must strive to change...both good and bad. This evaluation can be done several times a year...and the teacher can enhance progress by complimenting the children when they exhibit progress in good behaviors...and chastise for bad. He/she might even have conferences with the children where he/she gives his/her evaluations to the children personally....then it becomes a joint project.

Another factor that adds efficacy to the above mentioned chart is to give it a philosophical backing. This adds overall meaning to the behaviors, and enhances the children's grasp of why the good behaviors are necessary.

The model below uses the philosophy that there is a difference between a "pupil" and a "student", both in the classroom and in life. A pupil is anyone that has a teacher (or boss) who tells them what to do. They take orders...because they have to...but will tend to do the minimum to get by. A student is someone who wants to do more than what is required. He/she is cooperative and motivated, and wants to get the most out of every opportunity.

I personally used this model for over 20 years while teaching fifth grade. Before long it became the model used by the whole school. Hope you can use it also. It has now even become the theme of the whole EdWorks company. Try it....modify it...etc. Find printable version here...Click. Before printing, make sure you look at the "Print Preview" in Internet Explorer and use the % that looks best.

Yours truly,

Dr. Isaac Newton BrownMug Shot

 

 

Dear boys and girls, a pupil is anyone who merely has a teacher. He/she may do what the teacher says, but not much more...just the minimum to get by. Pupils don't try as hard as they can. They may hand in work that isn't up to their ability. A Pupil may make it hard on the teacher because he or she wants to do as little as possible. We have all seen such kids, and all of us find these qualities within ourselves. A STUDENT, on the other hand, wants to learn as much as possible. Therefore, he or she wants to make the teacher's job easier. He/she is helpful to the teacher. He/she might not be the smartest kid in the class, but nobody tries harder.

We think you have gotten the idea about what kind of learner we want you to be this year....of course a STUDENT. Therefore, below you will see the qualities of a PUPIL and the corresponding qualities of a STUDENT. We all have a mixture of both. What we want you to do is rate yourself honestly, and when you see a place where you are weak, you need to work in that area.

So rate yourself on this chart below...on the STUDENT side. The scale is 1-10. Read and rate yourself one at a time. Then add all the scores, and see how you stack up to the perfect STUDENT...a score of 100. Don't overrate yourself, nor underrate yourself. This is a tool for you to help yourself with, and the teacher never will see it. Then show the results to your parents and make a commitment to become a mighty STUDENT.
PUPIL STUDENT
1. Wastes time. Doesn’t start work promptly. Waits to the last minute to work. Often must be told to work. 1. Uses time well. Gets work done promptly._____
2. Does sloppy work. Doesn’t do best work possible. 2. Does neat work. Does best possible._____
3. Only wants to do as little as possible. Wants to "play first, work later". 3. Wants to learn as much as possible. Does "work first, plays later".____
4. Is not helpful to others and teacher. Disturbs others. 4. Is helpful to teacher and others.____
5. Doesn’t follow instructions. Directions must be repeated. Doesn’t learn routines... constantly has to ask what to do, and when. 5. Follows to directions. Listens to instructions. Learns routines, doesn’t have to be told what to do._____
6. Doesn’t study for tests. Lazy. 6. Studies for tests. Resourceful.____
7. Gets in trouble with teachers. Wants attention. Tries to get others in trouble also. Doesn’t correct misbehavior. 8. Stays out of trouble, and doesn’t let others get him into trouble. Follows the rules. Learns from mistakes, adjusts behavior______
8. Tries to make it hard for the teacher to teach because doesn’t really want to learn. Wants to only have fun. 8. Wants teacher to do a good job, and helps if possible. Wants to get as much out of school as possible._____
9. Makes excuse for himself, is never wrong, blame others. 9. Admits when he/she is wrong and changes behavior. _____
10. Is unorganized, never knows where anything is, and doesn’t make an effort to do the things to keep himself organized. 10. Is organized, either by nature, or does the things in order to be so.
  Total__________
Yours:  
Yours: