Do We Pay a Price for Being Nice?

The norms in education are different than in politics. We don't throw shoes at leaders, we don't yell "You lie" during a speech, and we don't heckle and boo when someone is speaking.

But does that politeness carry a cost?

Do we sacrifice student welfare by being too nice to one another? Should we worry less about being civil than about students learning? Or should we always treat everyone in a civil manner, even though we know they're wrong?

(Meet the Scholars responding to this post by visiting the 2009-10 ASCD Annual Conference Scholars Yearbook or by clicking on their name in the comments below.)