Behavioralism vs. Sensational Hats

Our class has been discussing the merits of behavioralism for the past week, and I thought it was high time I do some personal reflection on the topic. As have most students, I grew up in a school that was highly dependent on behavioralism. One of my earliest memories from school is of a jar in my kindergarten classroom. Every time someone did something good, a marble went in the jar. When the jar was full, we got a treat as a class – extra recess, a snack, more playtime. I learned quickly that to get a treat, I had to behave well, but was this the correct behavior from my teacher?
One argument against behavioralism is that it is a manipulation of children without getting to the heart of what causes bad behavior. This is true, in some ways. If the only response a teacher has is to promise treats for good behavior, they are using behavioralism in completely the wrong way. It should not be used as a substitute for good teaching and as the only motivational tool. Teachers should be able to motivate their children to want to learn without resorting to promises of extra recess or extra credit on the next test. They should be able to grab and hold attention without rewards. For instance, a sensational hat always serves to grab attention. :)
In all seriousness, there are many much more long lasting ways to get children interested in learning. When children are involved in their learning, they are much more likely to remember what they are taught. So, try different things to get students involved! Relate it to their lives, current events, things they can understand, things they have an opinion on. Make them interested because the material is interesting, not because they get a reward for their actions.
On the other hand, I do believe that behavioralism is an effective tool when used in moderation. For instance, if your students want to talk about a current issue but you have your own agenda to teach and you are having a hard time controlling the room, compromise. Agree to discuss the issue after you get through the material for the day. I think it is utterly impossible to completely avoid behavioralism in the classroom, nor is it desirable. Part of behavioralism is the feedback you give your students. Positive reinforcement helps a child develop views. Teachers are unable to motivate students without some sort of feedback. If a child answers a question and is not given positive feedback, they are unlikely to put themselves on a limb and answer a question again. It is harder to gain participation if your students do not feel encouraged.
Thus, behavioralism is a tool that I think is important for the classroom. However, any classroom that is completely dependent (or even mostly dependent, for that matter) on behavoiralist tactics is a classroom with an ineffective teacher whose students will not learn to love learning.