Quotes from Richard Lavoie

An oft-heard exclamation in teachers' lounges and school conferences is: "If she'd only try harder, she would do better." In fact, the opposite is true. In actuality, If she only did better, she would try harder.

Adults need to come to understand that the child does not want any of our power. He merely wants some of his own.

Parents cannot protect and guide without controlling and restricting. Children cannot become individuals without resisting and attacking. The process of child rearing is, therefore, inherently conflictual.

Poor school performance and productivity are temporary; motivation is permanent.

In order for a child to learn how to handle responsibility, he must be given responsibility to handle.

All children wear a sign that says, 'I want to be important NOW!' Many of our problems with today's youth arise because nobody reads the sign." —REVEREND JESSE JACKSON