Sunday, April 5, 2009

Our Own Worst Enemy

This is a recent compliant that I received from a teacher.

“My students behave for the first week after they get back from the discipline program, but after that they go back to their old habits and get in trouble again.”

Let’s analyze this statement:

Student + this teacher + this teacher’s classroom = misbehavior

Student + different teacher + different classroom = good behavior + carry over good behavior

Student + return to the original teacher + return to the original classroom = more misbehavior

Where exactly is the problem? If this teacher was a member of your staff, how would you address her complaint?

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn…

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Well, at least the teacher said "my students", so maybe there is hope. The old paradigm is that we focus on students for the shortcomings in a classroom. Can' pass TAKS? Students are too low. Students won't act right? Students don't come with social skills. Today I witnessed a district level administrator reassure a teacher that the discipline problems in her classroom were because of the kids in the class. There are 5 kids in the class. The problem is the teacher does not engage kids, has a take it or leave it attitude, and is indifferent to accountability. The teacher found an ally in a central office figure who adheres to this old paradigm. We are our own worst enemy.

Anonymous said...

Discipline takes effort from the whole school community and not just the classroom teacher. First of all, Biblical discipline should be happening at home. The administration should be consistent in discipline/punishment according to the district handbook. The teachers need to be providing outstanding hands-on activities everyday so that students are engaged in learning and not texting, and the school environment should reflect higher learning and collegiality. When we all work together discipline can be contained. Once again, we cannot save every kid, but we have to try.
Leatherneck out!

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