We Get What We Look For

Those of us who like cricket have been dismayed by recent revelations in the News Of The World accusing some Pakistani players of being involved in rigging the outcomes of events during Test Matches – spot fixing it is called. This is where for example a bowler agrees to bowl a no-ball at a particular point during the game and betting syndicates reap the benefit having bet on the outcome of that particular ball safe in the knowledge of what is going to happen.

One of the interesting outcomes of these revelations [supported as they are with video recordings of what appear to be conversations arranging the fix] is that it has changed how we now see things. Matthew Syed pointed this out in an excellent article in the Times today. He explains that last year t;;he Pakistani wicket keeper dropped an Australian batsman 3 times during an innings which turned the match from what looked like an easy win for Pakistan to an amazing victory for Australia. Before these NOTW revelations it was thought that he was nervously responding to the dramatic tension of the match. But now we are all wondering if the betting syndicates had persuaded him to let the Australians win. Now we know that betting syndicates bet on the outcome of a particular ball we begin to see things differently.

What we look for effects how we see things in the classroom too. If we look for what a child is achieving we find achievement whereas if we look for his failings we will see failing. Mmmmm ….Very interesting!