It seemed obvious to me that I worked harder for and learned more from those teachers who had high expectations for me. I learned less from those who did not. I went to the library to see how researchers view it today. I looked at summaries of the educational research done on this topic since the mid-1960s. Not all follow-up research confirmed the dramatic results of the first study.
Many elements influence a teacher's behavior and a student's learning.
Researchers find it difficult to pinpoint cause and effect. However, many educators today believe that the expectations teachers have for students are a factor in the students' ability to learn. Researchers have found widespread evidence that teachers' expectations do influence students' achievement, motivation, and self esteem. The younger the student, the stronger the impact teachers' expectations have on the students. Over the years this insight has played an important part in my own values.