Hopes, Fears & Reality by the National Charter School Research Project finds charter schools continue to grow but at a slightly slower pace.
One chapter finds charter schools are “quieter and less disruptive†than traditional public schools serving similar students.
“Student and parent preferences for a safe and orderly environment coupled with the flexibility of charter school administrators and teachers to enforce standards likely drive these results,†says Robin Lake, project director.
The report also looks at charter school leadership, governance and “smart” charter school caps.
The refusal to demand discipline in today’s schools in the name of diversity or some other goal is a major contributor to the failures of the system. A civil, safe environment must be the base rather than the goal of the education process.
Walter – hear, hear! Great author, Jim Jones, although I think he’s out of print – Positive Classroom Discipline. His point is that without discipline there can be no instruction; therefor, putting discipline (classroom management) first is justified. Three factors I see eroding discipline.
1 – Teachers feel that they must teach their subject, and stopping that to manage classroom behavior is a waste of time. They need to read Jones’ book.
2 – Litigation – teachers and administrators are (like many professionals in many fields – doctors, Human Resource Departments who won’t issue letters of recommendation, police officers, good samaritans – list goes on and on) afraid of dealing with the hassle of being sued.
3 – The idea that classroom management is some sort of “magic” trait – you either have it, or you don’t. Granted, some personalities lend themselves to better management in the classroom. HOWEVER classroom management – influencing student behavior to facilitate learning – is a learnable skill.
Classroom management requires administrative support that, for example the Frisco school district lacks and actively discouraged. When you throw out judgement and replace it with zero tolerance, the “guardhouse lawyers” win.
I currently work in a charter where the only punishment that teachers can use reliably is a 20 minute lunch detention. We theoretically can keep a student afterschool for detention, but must receive permission from a parent before each time… which is difficult in a school where only half of the parents have a phone number that is working.
Ultimately, the primary weakness that will hinder a teacher is a lack of confidence and patience, which can only grow with experience.
Since the topic seems to have turned to discipline, let me get in my two cents worth. Here’s a link http://www.brianrude.com/Dconten.htm
Fred Jones, not Jim Jones, is the author of Positive Classroom Discipline, which I too think is an excellent book. (Following Jim Jones’s example is probably ill-advised in the classroom.)
Thanks Clare – don’t know why I always mix that up. Maybe it was intentional and I was just seeing who was paying attention … (Ha!). That book would be excellent for any/all first year teachers who feel left on their own in the classroom – a la the “Teaching Without A Net” post.