Response to The Quality School by: William Glasser......

-- Anonymous, December 13, 1998

Answers

As I read William Glasser's view of the Quality School, a few thoughts came to mind. I like the idea of self evaluation. If the students take ownership of evaluation their own work for quality it's a much more valuable experience. This is definitely a skill that is not only for school but all aspects of a student's life. The concept of striving for quality is also an interesting one. Many aspects of this seem very similar to O.B.E. Proctor was a leading school in the area when O.B.E. was popular. Even though it has faded from the spotlight, many teachers still use many of the O.B.E concepts. Basically, students need to achieve mastery of the concepts before moving on. I've tried to use parts of this in my classroom whether I've taught Kindergarten or 6th grade. The problems arise when there isn't the support for additional reteaching, tutoring, etc. Also if everyone is going at their own pace, how do you keep track and still move forward?

Glasser had some very good ideas, but as a package is it realistic? In order for a Quality School to occur the support of the administration, school board, faculty, students, and community needs to occur. And according to Glasser's philosophy this can't be the typical mandated program. All those involved need to be persuaded that this is the best alternative and agree to it. Is this possible? Has it actually worked in the "real world"? And if so, what worked and what didn't?

-- Anonymous, January 03, 1999

I don't think Glasser's Quality School is realistic. It would be cost prohibitive for one. I can't imagine what a decent class size would need to be and the number of counsellors and administrators would have to increase dramatically. Who would pay for that? When you think of it though, wouldn't a lot of our problems in education go away if we reduced class size to say 18 kids in a class? Ultimately isn't that what people are paying for when they send their kids to private schools?

-- Anonymous, January 04, 1999

Nicole,

I am in agreement with your response, and I also think Glasser has some very good ideas. And probably, we should be using, or trying to use some of his techniques in our classrooms. As for whether or not it is realistic, I can only hope that it is somehow realistic and achievable. However, there are so many factors, like you and Tim mentioned that would have to be supportive and others that would have to be changed in order to achieve it, that it seems impossible that it could ever be realistic. I want to believe it can be, but at the same time I see so many parts to it that make me too skeptical to believe it could ever work.

-- Anonymous, January 07, 1999

I agree with you that Glasser has some valuable ideas that schools could use to improve their quality. The idea of self-evaluation is neat. It was interesting to read that the majority of the students didn't want to evaluate their own work because they figured it would lead to more work. The reality is that students will do only the bare minimum that is required of them. We as educators can only hope that our students will apply themselves in the classroom. I don't agree with Glasser when it comes to discipline. This guy must be an idiot to think that making jokes when a child is disruptive will curb the escalation of his/her misbehavior. Has this guy been in the classroom since the sixties? I think some of his ideas went out with the dinosaurs.

-- Anonymous, January 14, 1999