tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10132773.post8327865435316982876..comments2024-03-08T00:17:09.224-08:00Comments on The Daily Grind: Positivity and my need for itMr. McNamarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062641578010808106noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10132773.post-40464691471859939322008-09-29T05:56:00.000-07:002008-09-29T05:56:00.000-07:00I think you bring up a good point when you say "th...I think you bring up a good point when you say "the ones who test my patience are so loud and absurd". It's important to keep this in mind when thinking things are bad.<BR/><BR/>I want to thank you because your blog has given me some great ideas for a site I recently started with the NIFB Young Entrepreneur Foundation. If you get a chance, stop by and say hello.<BR/><BR/>Thanks!<BR/><BR/>Julie<BR/>http://youngentrepreneurfoundation.wordpress.com/Julie Carneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10362767480870893300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10132773.post-43686119120761146592008-09-24T16:02:00.000-07:002008-09-24T16:02:00.000-07:00Joe,Excellent commentary. Sometimes a drastic cha...Joe,<BR/>Excellent commentary. Sometimes a drastic change in approach is necessary. Unfortunately, the status quo seems acceptable to many in our district. They are more concerned about the teachers using Marzano's Effective Teaching Strategies as a way to change school culture than getting influencing students as well.Mr. McNamarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03062641578010808106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10132773.post-78111589094338855582008-09-24T06:27:00.000-07:002008-09-24T06:27:00.000-07:00Where is the leadership in your school? Does it r...Where is the leadership in your school? Does it recognize that the student attitudes you enumerate are prevalent? How has it engaged staff, teachers and parents in a process of changing the internal image of the school? <BR/>At one point the Bronx school in which I taught had four different principals in four years. During that time it descended into a chaos that for once seemed to fit what people think of when they talk about decaying urban schools. Then the fourth principal gradually took control. She created a staff development committee that emphasized teachers within the school sharing their successes and communicating about plans, approaches and attitudes. She gave the hitherto largely ceremonial student government real say in school policies and a forum for suggesting changes. She supported a group of initiatives that rewarded students for becoming involved in school activities. She identified a small group of highly disruptive students and worked out programs with their parents and teachers to have them make up credits they needed and move more quickly towards graduation, or move into GED programs, or move to second chance schools, or move to other schools. She created a lounge for seniors, changed the traffic patterns for getting to and from the cafeteria for lunch, and became highly visible in the school. We got new windows, the halls were painted, roof leaks got repaired. <BR/>We weren’t all happy with everything she did, but as it became clear that staff and students at all levels were valued, it became easier for us to be the teachers we always wanted to be. <BR/> Did I still get told to “fuck off” when I confronted those who knew they were not where they were supposed to be? Of course. But I also came to feel I had more ammunition to fire back, and the students knew it.<BR/> It’s not easy to turn things around when they have gone terribly wrong. Without intelligent, inclusive, energetic leadership, it’s close to impossible.<BR/>JoeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com