ENDING THE CHAOS IN EDUCATION

By Dick McDonald

If you ever saw the "Blackboard Jungle" you know the problems teachers in inner-city schools have in teaching "dysfunctional" and disruptive students. Since that movie came out, things have gotten progressively worse. By eliminating spanking, allowing children the right to sue their parents and teachers, by advancing unworthy students to retain their self esteem, by lowering grading standards, by allowing students to use bad language and call their teachers names America has an educational nightmare on its hands - a chaos of massive proportions.

Last night I listened to a bright and articulate barrier-crashing teacher, Genevieve Peters, spell out a solution to this classroom management problem. It was so simple and so easy to understand and believe that the bright light descended from the sky and illuminated us all. She calls it "Peters Procedures" and its effectiveness has been proven in selected classes throughout Southern California and currently doing wonders at an entire school in the heart of South Los Angeles.

As in all great management strategies the responsibility for its success is pushed down to the lowest level in the organization - in this case the student. The procedures are guidelines of civility and cooperation necessary to establish a positive learning environment policed eventually by the students themselves.

Inside the cocoon of easy to understand procedures, the classroom turns into a model of exemplary behavior. Students are not rewarded for good behavior - that is expected of them. When the student gets the message that he or she is responsible for their own actions and accountable to other students under the procedures, the group dynamic kicks in and the character so missing in today's children begins to emerge - a character with the ability to think for themselves and operate successfully in society.

It goes without saying that the time devoted to hard learning is substantially expanded by eliminating the chaos of today's classroom.

You must visit the school or go to Ms. Peters' website www.petersprocedures.com and see for yourself a program poised to change the American Student Culture as we know it and a program sure to go a long way in reducing crime and elevating the educational level of all American students. http://edwatch.blogspot.com

  EDUCATION WATCH INTERNATIONAL

Comments from Australia on the mostly parlous state of modern education by John J. Ray (M.A.; Ph.D.) -- former High School and University teacher. Read THIS before you spend money on education. Friday, March 07, 2008

News articles can be viewed with Acrobat Reader

Articles:
An Educational Press Release [PDF] 

Revolutionary PETERS PROCEDURES [1-29-07] www.edweek.org

California Dept of Education

Educational Statistics