Alison Stevens: I have long had a theory about teaching that the reason some people say the best way to learn is by making a bunch of mistakes (which I feel is a total cop-out on the teacher’s part) is because we’re bad at giving specific POSITIVE feedback. Maybe working on that generally could do a lot of good!

SOAPBOX TIME I hate how many times I read things like "nobody cares about the world" and "humanity is the virus" and "our species is too inept/evil/selfish to survive" online. I almost never see anyone talking about the many, many people who are doing incredibly hard, complex, good work

Then I log off, and run into, say, someone who provides occupational therapy for disadvantaged factory workers. Or someone whose job is to produce citywide heat maps that lead to regulations that cool specific areas. Or someone who scrutinizes health care in mental health settings. Or or or

how dare you feel some hope?? Don't you know it's forbidden on social media

I feel very little hope! But I also feel like, look at these good people doing good things! Look at them!!!

I have long had a theory about teaching that the reason some people say the best way to learn is by making a bunch of mistakes (which I feel is a total cop-out on the teacher’s part) is because we’re bad at giving specific POSITIVE feedback. Maybe working on that generally could do a lot of good!

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