I like this acronym, SNIOP, and I think it can be easily detected and identified by almost anyone. (Being Susceptible to the Negative Influence of Other People). I plan to use this new word as I teach my students about overcoming negative influences in our lives. I don’t know why I haven’t used it before or even thought about it until Michelle brought it to our attention this week.
When the Oklahoma State Department of Education selected me as a member of a team to be part of an eleven-state consortium for Arts for the Gifted and Talented in California, I had the wonderful and exciting opportunity to be introduced to some of the leading researchers in the new “brain research” just starting to hit the media. Some of the experiments demonstrated at that time confirmed (at least to me) how strong a force negative thinking can be.
My husband received his clinical hypnosis training previous to my appointment to this consortium, and I was already aware of the potential of the human mind through his work. It astounded me that as educators we had ignored much of this information. In fact, the very beginning of our corporation (A.B.R.A.I.N. Applied Brain Research Alters Instructional Needs) grew out of this experience.
Now, some thirty years later, I am able to track the positive gains made by doing exactly what the research was telling us long ago. Students who have benefitted from this research and its application to our teaching methods are many. Of course, I like to share and talk about the positive aspects rather than the “negative” sides of using such research information. However, I am well aware of the strength of negativity in any setting. I gave up the notion I had been taught as a youngster: “One bad apple doesn’t spoil the bunch,” long ago.
Many times, I tried hard to help a student who was having a negative influence upon the class, only to find that the ultimate solution was to remove that student completely. It is a hard decision which causes much restlessness, sleepless nights, and feelings of failure and frustration. However, for the greater good, I have had to make such a decision more than once. Each time, the results were wonderful for the class as a whole…but not always so good for the “bad apple” being removed. In fact, one such former student had his life ended by being shot to death by the law enforcement-officers years later.
People who know me, know I take my calling to teach very seriously. I often ruffle some feathers when I won’t give in to negative influences in our school. However, if I am to stand for our principles, or if I am to live my life as Jesus taught, I will not please everyone. So, it has been our standard statement (Mr. Johnson and I) that “we do discriminate against ONE thing only in our school…that is a BAD ATTITUDE…either on the part of the student or the parent.”
We are willing to teach and help anyone who enrolls in our school with a “can do attitude” and who is willing to work with us to help themselves to a good education!
One of the secrets to having a good attitude is to not let your life be susceptible to the negative influences of other people which is so prevalent on the internet! Little did my generation foresee what a colossal influence this communication technology was going to have on our young people and all generations to come. Thus, I spend a lot of time praying for our youth and our nation as well as our world. Prayer is the positive influence I continue to use in battling these outside influences…while helping students to believe in themselves and the great possibilities they have been given with this wonderful thing called the “human brain!”
- Kay