Learning

All attendees at a conference of The National Association of Secondary Principals (NASSP) received the update of “Breaking Ranks (with the status quo) II: Strategies for Leading High School Reform”—the association’s landmark publication. In addition, thanks to a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the publication has been sent to every high school principal in the U.S.A.

The original publication of “Breaking Ranks: Changing An American Institution” included “reducing anonymity” as one of six essential requirements to improve American high schools. Breaking Ranks II reduces essential categories to three touchstones but continues to list the importance of relationships and their importance to learning under “Personalization.”

Here is an easy way to implement personalization—to reduce anonymity—in any grade level … >>>

QUESTION:

I just finished reading the epilogue in your book on the problems of using a business model for education.

What a breath of fresh air! Thank you for your insights and wisdom.

My school district is the only one in the state running on a business model. It's kind of not working. Can you send me any hard facts that you might have supporting either side?

RESPONSE:
Thanks for your comment.

I have no hard facts. There is nothing to "fact" about. It is a state of mind. I want to clearly differentiate effort for learning and effort of any other kind—especially employment. For example, in my book, the word "homeWORK" is only in the index. I use the … >>>

Rather than working solely in isolation, learning and working communities collaborate.

Here is a simple technique any teacher, principal, parent, or leader can implement. Have people volunteer to relate something that SOMEONE ELSE has done successfully. Then decide on how often this activity should be conducted, such as weekly or monthly.

A collaborative spirit grows by having others share incidents of someone other than him/herself. Examples of incidents could be helping someone, using a new procedure, or sharing a successful technique.

Rather than the usual approach of the leader or a committee recognizing one person above the others each week, month, or year, sharing activities or incidents empowers the community without the negative "punished by rewards" syndrome created when a … >>>

Pursuing perfection focuses at looking for what’s WRONG.

On the other hand, pursuing high standards and excellence focuses on what’s RIGHT.

Most humans in most endeavors will fulfill their responsibilities more effectively when asked, “Are you satisfied with your work?” rather than “Is what you have done perfect?”… >>>

The young boy was to start kindergarten the next day and was protesting that he would not go. This could be a real discipline challenge.

A normal reaction would have been to banish the youngster to his room and tell him that he had better make up his mind to go because he had no choice. (Note: the youngster may have had no choice as to the decision but certainly had a choice as to how he could respond to it.)

Rather than taking this approach, the father reflected, "If I were my son, why would I be excited to go to kindergarten?"

The father and his wife made a list of all the fun things the child would do—such … >>>

“This should be a required course of study in every collegiate education major curriculum.”

Al Herring, Principal
Plain Dealing Elementary School, Plain Dealing, LA

Check out the Discipline Without Stress Teaching Model at http://marvinmarshall.com/… >>>

20th century parent to child regarding self-discipline:

"Eat your food. Think of all the starving people in India and China."

21st century parent to child:

"Do your homework—or someone in India or China may get  your job."… >>>

QUESTION:

Hi Marv!
I am a bit concerned about how I go about using DISCIPLINE WITHOUT STRESS with developmentally delayed 3 – 5 year olds. Basically, my class will be filled with developmental levels ranging from 18 months to 3 yrs. Any suggestions? Thanks!

RESPONSE:

I suggest what you are already doing, viz., have patience, teach procedures, have students practice them, challenge them to improve, and acknowledge them on their actions when they do. These and continual encouragement of what they are doing right will help develop habits of self-discipline.

The one addition would be—after teaching a procedure—to ask your students to SHOW YOU, rather than our usual inclination to just SHOW THEM.

If you have ever taken a computer … >>>

A major faulty assumption of many teachers—especially middle and high school teachers—is to assume that students know WHAT and HOW TO DO what teachers desire. The following are examples of procedures that teachers should consider establishing. They should be prioritized and not attempted all at once. Procedures precede product. This simply means that the more procedures are taught before content, the more effective the teaching and the fewer behavior and discipline problems will result.

Procedures that I established include:

1. How students enter the classroom.
2. Activities when first entering the classroom. (Students should ALWAYS do something that raises curiosity; piques interest; reinforces/reviews; or  practices a skill, e.g., journal writing. DEAD TIME IS DEADLY TIME.)
3. How to take roll … >>>

One of the most perceptive comments ever made to me was stated in an elevator. I was at a conference of the National Speakers Association and found myself in an elevator with Nick Carter who had worked with the dean of personal motivation, Earl Nightingale. During our elevator ride, Nick made a most interesting comment to me: “We run our life by procedures.”

I immediately thought about the procedures I use in my personal life and then reflected on procedures I used as a classroom teacher (primary, upper elementary, and every grade 7-12). Whenever a student(s) did something that irked me—that could be considered a “discipline problem”—I would establish a procedure. For example, when I suddenly heard the pencil sharpener … >>>

Although I have visited many museums around the world and have visited impressive libraries such as J.P.Morgan’s private collection in New York City, the New York City Library, and the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., I was not prepared for the emotional response I had visiting the Long Room at the Library of Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland.

I was in this interesting city to speak at the William Glasser European Conference on the topic, “Using Glasser, Covey, Deming, McGregor, and Maslow to Promote Responsible Behavior and Learning.” The presentation was on my article published in the Fall 2004 issue of the INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF REALITY THERAPY. Reality Therapy is the name of the pioneering work by William … >>>

In the following article I refer to the idea that most things in life are understood in their context. The following statements may help make my point—and offers examples showing that English is not the easiest second language to learn.

1)  The bandage was wound around the wound.
2)  The farm was used to produce produce.
3)  The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
4)  We must polish the Polish furniture.
5)  He could lead if he would get the lead out.
6)  The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
7)  Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.
8)  A bass … >>>

In the epilogue of my book on discipline and learning, I quote the comic character Dagwood Bumstead when I refer to using a business model for education. His quote: “You know that makes a lot of sense if you don’t think about it.”

The United States is operating under a federal “mandate” entitled, “No Child Left Behind.” The essence of the legislation is to blame schools for their poor performance and uses a negative approach with schools that do not meet the mandate’s requirements. Rather than going into the details of why the legislation is doomed to inevitable collapse, I share with you the famous “Red Bead Experiment” used by W. Edwards Deming. This management guru was the man who … >>>

I had the pleasure of speaking at the 50th anniversary of Phi Delta Kappa’s chapter at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Phi Delta Kappa is an international association devoted to leadership, service, and research in support of public education. The association publishes the PHI DELTA KAPPAN, the most widely quoted journal in education. In-depth, well-worth reading articles are its specialty.

Dr. Doug Bedient, Phi Delta Kappa International president in the mid 1990’s was my host. At his invitation, I spent two days with faculty members interviewing prospective teachers. They shared their portfolios addressing the State of Illinois 11 Professional Teaching Standards. The experience was truly inspiring. It was a pleasure to witness the proficiency and competence of those soon to … >>>

The following was written by Evelyn Marshall after the conference of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) in Orlando, Florida. I had presented the morning of the first day of the conference. This episode occurred on the second day. She wrote:

A tall muscular man approached me and quietly began, “I bought the book yesterday, and last night I read 120 pages.”

Suddenly, his eyes and voice took on an animation as he continued with great deliberateness,  “I’m going to give these ideas to my teachers as soon as I get back. This is the best book on teaching that I have ever read. I had to come over and tell you that.”… >>>

A few years ago, the former Secretary of Education, William Bennett, was asked by a 7th grader, "How can you tell a good country from a bad one?"

Dr. Bennett replied, "I apply the 'gate' test. When the gates of a country are open, watch which way the people run. Do they run into the country or out of the country?"

The question was an excellent one and prompted an excellent response. I think the same question could be applied to parenting, teaching, and any organization. If the people you deal with were exposed to other possibilities or opportunities, and if all other things were equal, would they stay with you—or would they leave you?

Consider taking an inventory. Are … >>>