THE SELF ESTEEM TRAP. More evidence that false encouragement of poor performers gets you more poor performance. "What really seems to improve performance is self-efficacy -- that is, the belief that what you do makes a difference. Work, study, get ahead. Feel good, goof off, get nowhere," concludes Joanne Jacobs. Photon Courier has some comments, and Andrea Harris and readers get a chance to vent. Looks like my comments on the term paper drafts awaiting my attention do NOT have to be sugar-coated. Draw two more red pens from storage and to work!