-- Anonymous, January 19, 1999

Answers

While readig Glasser's Quality School, I couldn't help but agree with a lot of his ideas. When I look back o my own educational experience, I know that the quality of my work was far better for the teachers I cared about and for the teachers who seemed to care about me. In 1990-91 I served on the staff development committee in the Proctor School District. During that time we jumped on the OBE bandwagon. Johnson City Schools came to train us. They believed strongly in Glasser and a lot of the practices they implemented were from Glasser. The most exciting part of that training was the ethusiasm of the teachers. They felt empowered and were excited about implementing new practices into their classrooms. Even the veteran teachers that had seen a lot of educational theories come and go were excited about adapting these new practices in their classrooms. Although OBE has disappeared, I think a lot of Glasser's theories are still being used. Unfortunately the leadership in the district went back to boss management. I know that I run my classroom more efficiently since adopting some of Glasser's ideas. The challenge is trying to have the districts as well as the state change to a lead management style instead of boss management. Everybody has ideas on how to improve the classroom but it just doesn't seem to come from the classroom teacher. I was listening to the radio this morning and they were discussing that the truly successful companies in the U.S.today are companies where the management asks the workers what they need and then provide the necessary tools. Sounds like Glasser to me. I know that I can't change everything in the district but I am able to control the learning in my classroom and it can be a quality classroom.

-- Anonymous, January 19, 1999