Re: What's good for the gander is good for the goose

[Joan Kaiser <Joankaiser@AOL.COM>]

Of course CARING AND CREATING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY will reduce violence.
EVERYONE has to feel part of the school. The interesting thing is that the
middle school movement has shown the research that creating a caring and
personalized school environment makes the difference.  They have long
advocated a close, personal relationship with at least one significant adult
in the school....(Turning Points, This We Believe, and Felner's
Research..AIMS study), Yet it is so difficult to implement.  Breaking Ranks
from NASSP has advocated the same type of environment  for high school
students.

Teachers as a whole don't feel convinced.  Is it the pressure from the high
stakes tests ?  That's definitely playing a role.  Content becomes too prime.
 No time for student-centered or affective activities. Too much skill and
drill for the tests instead.

Next month, I'm presenting a workshop on advocacy to a local middle school.
Why must we continue to plead with teachers to create that sense of
community? How much violence must we endure before we, as a nation,
understand the importance of valuing each individual and building a community
of caring?

Best,
Joan Samuels Kaiser

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