--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Students get the message bout what adults…" description: "\"“Students get the message bout what adults want. When 4th graders in a variety of classroomswere asked what their teachers most wanted them to do, they..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/771/alfie-kohn-7728_children_students-get-the-message-bout-what-adult_962346.jpg" --- # Students get the message bout what adults want. When 4th… ![“Students get the message bout what adults want. When 4th graders in a variety of classroomswere asked what their teachers most wanted them to do, they didn't say, "Ask thoughtful questions" or "Make responsible decisions" or Help others." They said, "Be quiet, don't fool around, and get our work…” quote by Alfie Kohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/771/alfie-kohn-7728_children_students-get-the-message-bout-what-adult_962346.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/771/alfie-kohn-7728_children_students-get-the-message-bout-what-adult_962346.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/771/alfie-kohn-7728_children_students-get-the-message-bout-what-adult_962346.jpg) > ““Students get the message bout what adults want. When 4th graders in a variety of classroomswere asked what their teachers most wanted them to do, they didn't say, "Ask thoughtful questions" or "Make responsible decisions" or Help others." They said, "Be quiet, don't fool around, and get our work done on time.”” [Alfie Kohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfie-kohn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Adults often impose quiet compliance over curiosity, stifling student agency. **In simple terms:** Adults value obedience over questioning. Key Takeaway Encourage questioning and responsibility in classrooms. Themes education authority child development Mood thoughtful critical Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - classroom management - parent-teacher meetings - curriculum design Key Concepts pedagogy student agency Questions to Reflect On - What would happen if students led their learning? - How can teachers balance order and curiosity? A Different Perspective May ignore need for structure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Help others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help-others/) [Rewards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rewards/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) ## Related quotes > [The question is rarely asked, "Why is it that so few other Americans have these protections?" 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You want to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-falardeau/it-s-the-same-challenge-as-with-any-other-character-adults-or-not-you/) [Philippe Falardeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-falardeau/) > [Dare to be the adults we want our children to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/dare-to-be-the-adults-we-want-our-children-to-be/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [In my books my characters experience things as they are. My books allow youth an honest look at important issues affecting them. As adults…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-hopkins/in-my-books-my-characters-experience-things-as-they-are-my-books/) [Ellen Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-hopkins/) > [First and foremost, we need to be the adults we want our children to be. We should watch our own gossiping and anger. 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Presidential commissions on education are commonly chaired…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfie-kohn/many-of-our-elected-officials-have-virtually-handed-the-keys-to-our/) [Alfie Kohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfie-kohn/) > [“a grade can be regarded only as an inadequate report of an inaccurate judgment by a biased and variable judge of the extent to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfie-kohn/a-grade-can-be-regarded-only-as-an-inadequate-report-of-an-inaccurate/) [Alfie Kohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfie-kohn/) > [In some suburban schools, the curriculum is chock-full of rigorous A.P. courses and the parking lot glitters with pricey SUVs, but one doesn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfie-kohn/in-some-suburban-schools-the-curriculum-is-chock-full-of-rigorous-a-p/) [Alfie Kohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfie-kohn/) > [Standardized testing has swelled and mutated, like a creature in one of those old horror movies, to the point that it now threatens to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfie-kohn/standardized-testing-has-swelled-and-mutated-like-a-creature-in-one/) [Alfie Kohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfie-kohn/) > [If a child is off-task...mayb e the problem is not the child...maybe it's the task.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfie-kohn/if-a-child-is-off-task-mayb-e-the-problem-is-not-the-child-maybe-it-s/) [Alfie Kohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfie-kohn/) > [If unconditional love and genuine enthusiasm are present, praise isn't necessary. 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A no homework policy is a challenge to me," he adds. "I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfie-kohn/but-as-i-mastered-the-material-homework-ceased-to-be-necessary-a-no/) [Alfie Kohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfie-kohn/) [Explore all 88 Alfie Kohn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfie-kohn/) ## More Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. 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