Reactions to William Glasser's "The Quality School"

As I read this book I kept thinking "Wouldn't that be nice?" I would love a school where there are only A's and B's and there are no discipline problems. Where students learn because they have a passion for it and never need to forced. Who wouldn't want that.

The problem with this idea is that there are too many obstacles to overcome in order for it to be practical. There are far too many problems public school's need to deal with in order for this even to become close to reality. Class size, disfunctional families, drug use, special education issues, sexual behavior issues to name a few. Believe it or not, there will always be some kids that are going to be satisfied doing as little as they can. Some of these kids deserve to fail and why shouldn't that failure be noted. Itr doesn't take but a few kids who could care less to ruin the atmosphere you are working to maintain in a quality school. What do you really do with them? (Don't tell me you will just put them in a "Time Out Room" where a counsellor will help them to work out their anger.) Our school has 3 counsellors for 1300 students.

We can't enforce the attendance policies because dropping that many students would cause a severe loss of funding. Truancy issues in 9th grade are compounded by tha fact that you can't enforce the policies until the student is 16 years old.

Perhaps it would work better in an elementary school where teachers are mostly looked up to and respected by there students. In my brief time I have been teaching at the public school I lost count of the number of times students have been blatantly disrespectful to me or my colleagues. Why is that students can expect so much from their teachers but we are entitled to expect so little in return? If I expect my student's to do homework and they refuse, shouldn't there be a consequence for that choice? Is it truly coercion if students are being held accountable for their choice not to produce?

Don't get me started on "Constructivist Learning" That is the topic for a whole other discussion.

-- Anonymous, January 05, 1999

Answers

Tim,

Much of what you have said does hold validity with me. Many obstacles would have to be overcome in order for this to work, and it does seem impossible that any of these obstacles could be overcome. But never say never. If there are some schools out there that are making this "Quality School" work, I sure would like to see one. It would definitly put my skeptical mind at ease.

And yet, I never lose hope. If this is possible (because other schools are noted for becoming a Quality School), then I think we should try to achieve it also (Or maybe in my dreams).

-- Anonymous, January 07, 1999

I agree with what you have to say. I think that in certain classes and/or teachers, "parts" of what Glasser has to say is applicable. I think the basis of teaching without coercion is where we should start with our classes but there are some students who won't do anything without a "verbal kick in the @#$%". In regards to elementary teaachers you get some disrespectful students but remember an elementary teacher sees the same 25-30 students all day as opposed to a junior or senior high teacher who sees over 100.

-- Anonymous, January 07, 1999