NHR Research

In The Feel-Good Curriculum, Maureen Stout explores the nature of the current educational environment and how students are prepared for the rest of their lives. In the introduction, Stout describes how many prospective teachers believe that public education should be like a womb in that they are a “warm, secure, and insulated environment,” (Stout 3). Students are given low expectations so that their self esteem can be nurtured as opposed to their intellect. Stout has a surprised tone because her hands on experience with students is with the students who are learning to become teachers. She learned firsthand from prospective teachers that students believe they are entitled to grades simply because they put in the effort. Initially, Stout was willing to dismiss the apparent status-quo as a joke because it seemed contradictory that college students would have such a high level of entitlement. However, after coming to terms with reality, Stout has a more disenchanted tone. She states the general theme of teaching as fact, that “schooling should be for, above all, developing, promoting, and protecting student self-esteem,” (Stout 4-5). She simply points out the nature of the system, knowing fully that she cannot change the situation as an assistant professor. In the introduction, she begins to make the claim that her generation and colleagues are the creators of this learning culture.  

Stout, Maureen, 2000. The Feel-Good Curriculum. Cambridge, MA: Perseus Books; pp. 3-4