Prayer and B.F. Skinner

I learned so many different names and theories in Educational Psychology that it is difficult to keep them all straight. But I did remember one, B.F. Skinner. I think it was due to his quote that has always stayed in my mind: Give me a child and I'll shape him into anything. I was thinking of these things the past week because I have realized I succumb to many of Skinner's Behaviorist thoughts without knowing it. I wrongly assume that I am in control of my student's behaviors. I see a student misbehaving and rack my brain thinking of what action I can take so that the student has no choice but to start following my directions and acting in an appropriate behavior. I go on somewhat of a power trip thinking that I can somehow control my student's behaviors through the different reinforcements I give them. But sometimes, like last week, there is a student that in spite of my best efforts, still chooses to disobey. I had tried many things and they had all failed. So without giving it much thought, I mentioned this student as a prayer request to Becki. We prayed for the student that morning and I went on with my day. And unbelievably, it was one of the best days that this student has had this year. I don't expect this student to be a model student for the remainder of the year, but I was reminded that it is not my innovative disciplining strategies that mold students. Rather, it is God who works in the lives of these students and I have been given the opportunity to be one of the tools that God uses to help educate these children.