High Self-Esteem = High Achievement?
Self-esteem is defined in the Webster Dictionary as “a confidence and satisfaction in oneself.” Traditionally, schools believed that when students were academically successful, it will result in a higher self-esteem in students. But children in the United States these days are being taught at schools to have self-esteem before they are taught to do their best. Advocates of this teaching method believe that for students to do well in school and in life, it is necessary to have a high self-esteem.
However, studies have shown that high self-esteem does not necessarily equal success in achievements. A study was conducted to test the academic skills of elementary school students in Japan, Taiwan, China, and the United States. Without any surprise, the Asian students outperformed the American students. But the most interesting part of the study was that, although, the American students earned lower test scores, they scored number one in self-confidence. When the American students were asked about how well they scored on the test, they evaluated their own academic performances more highly than their actual scores. Their Asian counterparts, on the other hand, were not as confident about their test scores. Instead of fostering an environment where students are given tools to succeed academically, schools are teaching students to have pride in themselves without having this confidence in a particular skill or achievement.
"True self-esteem requires an accurate appraisal of one's own abilities in comparison to those of others...a phony self-esteem is vulnerable to puncture by life's experience,” says the author of “Self Esteem: In a Culture Where Winning Is Everything and Losing Is Shameful.” A truthful assessment of one’s own strengths and weaknesses will enable students to understand what academic area they need to improve to succeed. However, when a student has an inflated self-esteem their ability to cope with situations in life may not be strong because their confidence is not grounded in anything solid. Therefore, the way to solve this epidemic is for teachers to start teaching them how to succeed academically, and then self-esteem will surely follow.
|