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Addressing the Discipline Problem Jay Matthews
The Washington Post, May 11, 2004 Calling Public Agenda "one of the most interesting and useful chroniclers of
opinion inside American classrooms" Washington Post education columnist, Jay Matthews,
discusses their most recent report, "Teaching Interrupted." The report was sponsered
by Common Good.
Matthews agrees with the report that "unlike many problems in schools, discipline
can be improved significantly with just a few adjustments in the way schools are
organized, and the way teachers are trained." Teachers, he says "need a way to
get their most troublesome kids out of their classes. After all, the current system,
which tells teachers they are just going to have to put up with it, jeopardizes
their careers."
"We all remember those of our teachers who knew how to squelch bullies and comedians.
Some principals have this knack and try to teach it to their new hires. What is
necessary is a few rule changes to back them up, more attention to discipline
in teacher training courses, and maybe the long-awaited acknowledgement from the
foundations and the school districts and the think tanks that until they pay more
attention to this, much of the time we insist our children spend in school is
going to be wasted."
Click here to read the entire column. | |
