Proposed Hiring of Motivational Psychology Experts with Expertise in Education to Help Reduce Violence and Boost Graduation Rate in Utah Public Secondary-Level Schools

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Sent: Sat, Oct 7, 2023 at 8:18 PM

Subject: Hire Motivation Psychologists to cut UT Dropout Rate

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3505025/?fbclid=IwAR2pzF12S4aM0O-aIZZxENC7sTEOQ1VtV7C570yWCWqwTclR5sEK8Aj6yu8#:~:text=Specifically%2C%20a%20counselor%20focus%20on,of%20late%20high%20school%20dropout.

October 7, 2023

Dear Very Honorable Officials of the Utah Department of Education in Salt Lake City,

Please note the above link to a recent copyrighted report about the potential benefit of greater reliance on Motivational Psychology in public schools.

I would like to urge the Utah Department of Education to please hire several or more first-rate "Motivational Psychologists" with expertise in education who could help increase the attendance rate and boost test scores  in secondary-level public schools throughout Utah.

The Motivational Psychologists could also help reduce the incidence of violence and threats of violence at public schools in Utah by highlighting the lifelong  power of optimism, cheerfulness, rational goal-setting, resourcefulness, civility, and obedience of the law throughout the entire life of each and every current Utahn public secondary-school student.

The proposed hiring of numerous Motivational Psychologists for Utah public schools  could  help significantly reduce the attempted suicide rate and suicide rate among high school students in Utah. 

The Motivational Psychology experts could also help public schoolteachers throughout Utah to inspire their students in the classroom  through an enthusiastic and cheerfully incisive teaching style that highlights the tangible  advantages to each student from diligently pursuing their assigned schoolwork in that course.

Each Utahn secondary-level public school teacher could ask a successful alumnus of that public school to visit that teacher's classroom and explain to each student why each day of their own career and life they benefit from the skills and factual information they learned at that public  high school.

Another Motivational Psychology strategy that Utah public schools could use might be to play in music class or on the school intercom one or more of  the finest-ever wholesome popular songs that praised Sunshine ('Sunshine on My Shoulders" by John Denver or "Here Comes the Sun" by the Beatles, for instance), Snow, Mountains, Utah, Tobacco-Free Living, Alcohol-Free Living, and Obedience of the Law, respectively.

A statewide Utah Public Schools  Motivational Strategies Symposium or workshop could also be offered in each public school district or at each public  secondary school to promote a true delight in and support for  public school education by as many students, parents,  teachers, and administrators as possible.

I would also like to share with each of you very influential State Government of Utah officials a key statement (below) from the above link to a recent copyrighted online report about  a study highlighting  the potential of Motivational Psychology techniques in public schools.

"4.1 Implications for Prevention

"The results of the current study support the idea that programs targeting reasons for attending school might have a beneficial effect on a large proportion of 10th grade student population. Dynarksi and colleagues (2002) pointed out that the vast majority of existing dropout prevention programs involve a counseling component which might be modified to take into account the results of the current study.

"Specifically, a counselor focus on fostering a more multi-faceted motivational profile regarding attending school, including intrinsic enjoyment of classes as well as understanding of the tangible extrinsic incentives for graduation, might help reduce the risk of late high school dropout. The potential efficacy of this type of program is highlighted by previous research showing that high school engagement, as defined by a multi-dimensional combination of behaviors promoting adjustment and academic achievement, affective feelings toward school, cognitive investment in learning, and academic self-regulation, is associated with a decreased risk for dropout (Archambault, Janosz, Fallu, & Pagani, 2009). Among those students who do not dropout, our results imply this same multi-faceted motivational profile regarding school is associated with greater academic achievement, as membership in the intrinsic-identified/introjected-external class was predictive of later math scores even after accounting for previous academic achievement."

Utah Department of Education Officials, I hope this brainstorming letter is helpful to each of you. 

I would welcome a reply letter from any of you on any aspect of this public policy-minded letter.

Sincerely and Best Wishes,

John Kevin McMillan, a former Texas DPS full-time employee and founder of the strictly one-member (only me) and non-proselytizing anti-alcohol and anti-tobacco, factually-minded  "Progressive Prohibitionist Religion".

I am the youngest son of longtime University of Texas at Austin Botany professor and Murray (UT) native Dr. Calvin McMillan. Father earned his Bachelor's and Master's Degrees at the University of Utah and was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout his  years of residence in Utah.

My solo-occupancy, fully bolt-locked studio rental apartment unit ever since June 1, 2022:

535 South 200 East, Apt. 912, Ninth Floor, Salt Lake City, UT 84111.

Cell phone: (512) 993-7305.

Home phone: (801) 355-0850.

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