The techniques in the behavioral approach are effective tools for altering students' maladaptive behaviors when a teacher utilizes them skillfully and appropriately. In addition to preparation and organization of class material, teachers have to face problems of classroom management such as misbehaviors of students. One of the most effective approaches they can use is the behavior modification approach. This approach uses principles in operant conditioning, that is, rewarding the on-task or good behaviors and punishing the off-task or bad behaviors. B.F. Skinner, a positivist (who believes science should be studied in an observable way), is the founder of the behavioral modification approach. He claims that the unconscious is not empirical or observable, and ther

With respect to the theory, I want to present the following arguments. Firstly, studying observable behaviors is the only way to go. All the internally processes could be ignored since they cannot be measured anyway. The most important thing is the outcome (ex. Learning). Objectivity is the key. Emotions, attitudes and values influence the outcome. Secondly, people learned from experience which was rewarded or punished. We learn how to speak English by listening to feedback of other people. There is nothing wrong with performing according to past reinforcement contingencies. Humans are still "response-able". Humans can recognized works which are novel to them.

Teachers encounter several problems when applying this approach. The first is the ethical issue in regards to punishment. Punishment is an extremely controversial issue. The second is the side effect of punishment (ex. Withdrawal, helplessness and aggression). Students who are punished often feel angry and sad. These internal states could lead to aggression and further maladaptive behavior. The third is that teacher models aggressive behavior, which in turn, would be imitated by the student. The fourth is that punishments are often irrelevant to the misbehavior (ex. Detention for talking in class). Punishment only teaches students what not to do, but does not teach what students should do. The fifth is that punishment would often generalize to the agent and setting of punishment (ex. Avoidance of a teacher or a classroom) (Martin & Sugarman, 78). The sixth is that extinction is not the best solution for off-task behaviors because often extinction burst would occur.!

improved, and the procedures, would be clearly written and recorded. Any questions and concerns should be cleared up before agreeing with the contract. One thing that needs caution is that students could become dependent on the costly reinforcement (ex. Tokens). Therefore, teachers should replace the costly reinforcement with their good comments when they begin to see improvement on the targeted behaviors.

efore, should not be studied (Wheldall & Merrett, 15).

In sum, it is not the behavior approach that is inadequate, but rather, it is the people who execute such an approach that makes the difference between failure and success. Choosing punishers and reinforcers is not easy. Some reinforcers work on only some students. It requires patience and the use of a trial and error process. Instead of being loud and emotional, I as a teacher, would calm down and use quiet reprimands to firmly warn my students. It s very important that I must follow through with the punishment should the warning fail. Otherwise, the off-

Some common words found in the essay are:
Learning Objectivity, Martin Sugarman, Martin Surgarman, , Wheldall Merrett, BF Skinner, martin sugarman, Management Principles, Study Education, modification approach, behavior ie, off-task behaviors, Merrett Wheldall, behavioral modification approach, form punishment, extinction burst, strengthen behavior, respect theory, behavioral modification, martin surgarman, Thoresen Carl, stimuli weaken behavior, stimuli strengthen behavior, behavior ie student, 6 pages readings,
Approximate Word count = 1812
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)