Discussion: Classroom Perfectionism

This post is part of the Teachers Certification Map’s “discussion series,” a collection of posts featuring highlights and questions around the evolving state of education aimed at enlightening young teachers as they embark on their careers.

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The perfectionist in the classroom is always obvious. They can typically add as much to the classroom environment as they can take away.

Daniel Pink has a good piece on perfectionism on his blog, where he discusses why and how it occurs:

According to research reported in this Miller-McCune article, perfectionism comes in two varieties: adaptive and maladaptive. And one of the key determinants of the type of perfectionism someone displays is whether the quest for perfection is “motivated from an inner urge or an outside push.”

My favorite quote was his description on when perfectionism is beneficial and when it’s not:

If you’re driving hard because of your own desire for excellence, that can actually lead to greater satisfaction and psychological health. But if you’re pursuing perfection because of pressure from others — parents, bosses, peers — that’s likely to take you down the path of dissatisfaction and reduced well-being.

DISCUSSION: How do you deal with the over-achieving perfectionist in the classroom? Does it add to your classroom environment or detract from it?

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Do you know someone with great insights to share with young teachers, or do you want your material considered for a discussion topic?

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