School = Jail For Kids ?

Education… The process through which we discover that learning adds quality to our lives

Characteristics of a Quality School Characteristics of a Quality School  School is free of ongoing discipline problems.  Achievement is at least 75% on state tests.  All students achieve competence; grades below competence are eliminated.  “Schooling” is replaced by useful education  All students do some quality work.  Students and adults are knowledgeable re Choice Theory.  School is a joyful place; everyone finds satisfaction in their work.

In our system Catholic schools are first and foremost religious schools. They provide a unique opportunity for students to grow, both in relationship with God, and also in knowledge, understanding, wisdom and life skills, in a way that promotes the integration of their faith and their daily lives. Catholic schools strive to prepare students with the knowledge and skills needed to make a positive contribution to society and to the Church. Catholic schools are first and foremost religious schools. They provide a unique opportunity for students to grow, both in relationship with God, and also in knowledge, understanding, wisdom and life skills, in a way that promotes the integration of their faith and their daily lives. Catholic schools strive to prepare students with the knowledge and skills needed to make a positive contribution to society and to the Church.

Conditions For Quality Supportive environment of warm, caring relationships, free of coercion Supportive environment of warm, caring relationships, free of coercion Learning that is meaningful, relevant and useful to students Learning that is meaningful, relevant and useful to students Self-evaluation for everyone Self-evaluation for everyone Religious education is one of the most obvious ways that the Catholic identity of a Catholic school is exhibited. Explicitly and implicitly, religious education forms an integral part of the total curriculum of the Catholic school. It is broader than the classroom teaching of religion, and is directed towards the personal and religious development of students. Religious education is one of the most obvious ways that the Catholic identity of a Catholic school is exhibited. Explicitly and implicitly, religious education forms an integral part of the total curriculum of the Catholic school. It is broader than the classroom teaching of religion, and is directed towards the personal and religious development of students.

A Quality School is grounded in Reality Therapy and Choice Theory, both developed by William Glasser.

Reality Therapy Counseling approach developed by psychiatrist William Glasser Counseling approach developed by psychiatrist William Glasser Helps people gain control over their lives by self-evaluating their behavior, then choosing behavior that meets their needs effectively and responsibly Helps people gain control over their lives by self-evaluating their behavior, then choosing behavior that meets their needs effectively and responsibly Adjectives describing feelings are changed to verb forms Adjectives describing feelings are changed to verb forms

Key Questions in Problem- solving Process What do I want? What do I want? What am I doing now? What am I doing now? Is what I’m doing helping or hurting me to get what I want? Is what I’m doing helping or hurting me to get what I want? What behavior could I choose that would work better? What behavior could I choose that would work better?

Choice Theory 5 genetically determined needs 5 genetically determined needs survival survival love and belonging love and belonging power and respect power and respect freedom freedom fun fun

4 Components of Behavior Action Action Thinking Thinking Feeling Feeling Physiology Physiology

Lead Management: Whereas boss management is characterized by coercion, adversarial relationships, control and evaluation by the boss, in Lead Management: Managers encourage input & discussion of work, to improve quality Managers encourage input & discussion of work, to improve quality Manager or designee shows or models work to be done & makes efforts to increase workers’ sense of control Manager or designee shows or models work to be done & makes efforts to increase workers’ sense of control Manager teaches workers to evaluate their own work for quality Manager teaches workers to evaluate their own work for quality Manager teaches that continuous improvement is essential to quality Manager teaches that continuous improvement is essential to quality Manager’s role is to facilitate & support & create an environment that is friendly and non-coercive, therefore, non- adversarial Manager’s role is to facilitate & support & create an environment that is friendly and non-coercive, therefore, non- adversarial

References Works of William Glasser, including the following: Schools Without Failure (1969) Schools Without Failure (1969) Choice Theory in the Classroom (1988) Choice Theory in the Classroom (1988) The Choice Theory Manager (1994) The Choice Theory Manager (1994) The Quality School: Managing Students Without Coercion (1997) The Quality School: Managing Students Without Coercion (1997) Choice Theory: A New Psychology of Personal Freedom (1998) Choice Theory: A New Psychology of Personal Freedom (1998) Creating the Competence Based Classroom (1999) Creating the Competence Based Classroom (1999) Ludwig & Mentley. (1997). Quality is the key.

Quality Schools Resources The William Glasser Institute The William Glasser Institute Lassen Street, Suite Lassen Street, Suite 118 Chatsworth, CA Chatsworth, CA Phone: (818) Fax: (818) Web site: Center for Reality Center for Reality Therapy Therapy 7672 Montgomery Road 7672 Montgomery Road Cincinnati, Oh Cincinnati, Oh Phone: (513) Phone: (513) Website: Website: