Children begin elementary school around age five. Erik Erikson developed a theory divided into several stages that represent the different stages of a person's life, and one of its stages is directly associated with the age of children entering the school scene for the first time. This phase is commonly called Industry vs. Inferiority. Research has shown that this stage in children's lives is a critical stage that will determine how they look at themselves and others for many years to come. Erikson's fourth stage of personality development, Industry vs. Inferiority can be defined as the stage in which a child determines his own self-esteem and abilities. Since the phase refers to “industry,” this is the ultimate goal of every educator. If students become industrial students, they have a sense of mastery over the school environment and, therefore, are usually more confident (Erikson, 1980, 1976). Students will find their own abilities and value through interactions and relationships with other students, but since the phase refers to "inferiority", this is every educator's fear; students will see themselves as less valuable than other students in their class (Bailey, 1976). It is important for educators at every level—elementary, middle, and secondary—to understand that this is a crucial stage in determining how each person views themselves and others later in life. According to Jones, Burks, and Jones (1936) there are many different ways in which a classroom can strengthen or hinder a student's self-esteem; for example, relationships between students, class activities, interests, and personalities. Research has shown that many young children at school prefer friendships with peers of the same students, or if they decide that they are inferior to their peers and do not reach their full potential. Works Cited Bailey, S. (1976). The different ages of learning. Amendment 8(4). Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/Jones, MC, Burks, BS, & Jones, HE (1936) Personality development in childhood: a survey of experimental problems, methods, and results. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development. 1(4). Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/A Quote by Albert Einstein. Retrieved from http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/101458-everybody-is-a-genius-but-if-you-judge-a-fishErikson, E. H. (1980). Identity and the life cycle (Vol. 1). W. W. Norton & Company. Retrieved from http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=lRJRXvx64ZgC&oi=fnd& pg=PA7& dq=identity+and+the+life+cycle&ots=ScTRgbT6uN&sig=wqF_Zh1YZ4u-nqH7FpeL7bKJNxw#v=onepage&q=school% 20age&f=false