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Think about being a teenager and feeling like school is just about taking tests you may or may not be interested in, after which someone will judge whether or not you're smart. No one's going to be inspired by that.
Carol S. Dweck
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote critiques the education system's focus on testing rather than fostering genuine interest and inspiration in students.

Carol S. Dweck's quote reflects on the experiences of teenagers in an education system that prioritizes standardized testing over nurturing curiosity and passion for learning. She argues that this approach does not inspire students, as it reduces their worth to merely a score or judgment, leading to a disconnection from the genuine pursuit of knowledge and personal growth.

Themes

EducationInspirationTestingLearningTeens

In practice

Example use cases

In a classroom setting where students feel disengaged, this quote can highlight the need for more inspiring teaching methods.

More from Carol S. Dweck

Just because some people can do something with little or no training, it doesn't mean that others can't do it (and sometimes do it even better) with training.
Carol S. DweckRead
Some students start thinking of their intelligence as something fixed, as carved in stone. They worry about, 'Do I have enough? Don't I have enough?'
Carol S. DweckRead
In one world, effort is a bad thing. It, like failure, means you're not smart or talented. If you were, you wouldn't need effort. In the other world, effort is what makes you smart or talented.
Carol S. DweckRead
Our message to parents is to focus on the process the child engages in, such as trying hard or focusing on the task - what specific things they're doing rather than, 'You're so smart. You're so good at this.' Although it's never too late to change, what you do early matters.
Carol S. DweckRead
Picture your brain forming new connections as you meet the challenge and learn. Keep on going.
Carol S. DweckRead
I loved everything. I loved sciences and I loved humanities. But ultimately, I felt that in the humanities, you know, you're writing about things that already exist. But in the sciences, you're discovering things that no one has known before. Ultimately I chose psychology because it seemed to combine science with things that I liked to think about.
Carol S. DweckRead

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