THOMPSON: Stimulating New Thoughts
At the basketball game, a parent and I had another of those discussions on discipline. It was no different than the conversations that have been repeated throughout my entire career, but it left me more saddened than previous ones. With the recession, we agreed, disruptions would increase as would racial animosity. (Just wait for the backlash over the new discipline policy in Washington D.C.)
As I replayed the conversation in my mind, I realized that the Stimulus Package could change everything. Now, the parent’s proposals made more sense than any that I had been wrestling with. So, here are his ideas for secondary schools:
1. Make classroom disruptions a priority; quickly remove students who are robbing others of an education.
2. Hire additional In-House Suspension teachers so that most offending students would not serve their consequences on the streets.
3. Hire counselor/graduation coachs so that every suspension is accompanied by a significant and caring intervention. - John Thompson
As an Oakland public school parent for the past 16 years, and having worked in a struggling Oakland middle school for seven of those years, I am absolutely convinced that your last two posts hit at the purest essence of things.
You might be interested in my post of Feb. 14
http://perimeterprimate.blogspot.com/2009/02/seeking-your-perspective-re-k-12.html
Thank you for your voice of sanity. I read your comments on Bridging Differences, too.
Posted by: Pondoora | February 28, 2009 at 16:28 PM