Comments for SCHOOL CLIMATE

Comment on New Hampshire, what were you thinking? by Allison Ewoldt

Allison Ewoldt — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 02:57:37 +0000

Liz, you said, “New Hampshire, it is telling is that the legislator who introduced the bill was surprised by the furor it caused across the country. His surprise reveals a profound lack of understanding of what public education means in a diverse, democratic society, how curriculum is developed and schools operate on a daily basis.”

Brilliant analysis and profound, concise summary. Bravo!

Comment on Hazing-an excuse to abuse by Allison Ewoldt

Allison Ewoldt — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 02:35:46 +0000

I am almost ashamed to say that I had no idea that this amount of hazing has been commonly perpetrated below the college level. I’d heard of dangerous hazing in college fraternities, but..in grade school, middle school, and high schools? And much of it encouraged and condoned by adult educators and coaches? This shocks and deeply saddens me. Yet another indictment of our dominator culture, where “power over” is valued more highly than “cooperation with.”

Liz, you say, “We can change the tradition of hazing.
We can do it by being clear about what is and is not tolerated, and then by holding everyone accountable.”

I think that yes, it is first vital to say, NO. But then, I think you also provide another vital piece of the solution in your last paragraph where you say, “…they would prefer positive initiation activities to build comradery and a feeling of belonging.”

My bully-bait son attended a small middle school (transferred there in 8th grade) where the first few days of school were spent on community-building activities. He never once reported being bullied. Every student was highly valued for their strengths and gifts. Although he was considered strange and a loner, when a play he had written was produced at the end of the year, he got a standing ovation and heartfelt cheers.

There is a better way. Thanks to you, Liz, for leading the way.

Comment on New release date for The Violence Continuum by Allison Ewoldt

Allison Ewoldt — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 06:20:48 +0000

Better a bit late than never! The world of education so desperately needs this guidance. Thank you for making such a positive contribution that will surely improve the school experiences of innumerable children. Can’t wait to get my hands on a copy, and just wish I could afford to get one into the hands of every school administrator in the country.

Congratulations!

Comment on McInerney murder retrial avoided by Allison Ewoldt

Allison Ewoldt — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 06:00:40 +0000

Thank you for the update, Liz.
I only hope that you are right that this tragedy has indeed raised awareness of the need for schools to play an active, ongoing role in prevention. In a case like this, an ounce of it is priceless.

Comment on Part Three: Building on the good idea by Allison Ewoldt

Allison Ewoldt — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 05:16:29 +0000

“An ounce of prevention…” Thank you for outlining a practical, effective strategy that can potentially have a profound positive influence not only on school climate, but on the character development and thus the quality of the lives of students, teachers, and ultimately society. Once again: it is vital that this information be widely disseminated among educators at all levels as well as the institutions that support and influence education. Please get this published widely!

Comment on Part Two: Subverting the good idea by Allison Ewoldt

Allison Ewoldt — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 04:59:02 +0000

Your analysis is comprehensive and your conclusions well-founded. Have you submitted/distributed your sage concerns widely–especially to the KIPP organization itself and the NYTimes? If not, I strongly urge you to do so! I agree that the subjective practice of “grading” character is both damaging and dangerous, and this vital “red flag” needs to be raised high.

Thank you

Comment on Part Two: Subverting the good idea by lizmanvell

lizmanvell — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 17:47:29 +0000

Exactly. Once you assign a number to someone’s character, absurd in itself, just as happens when you know your IQ score, it becomes a simplistic and often limiting representation of how you view yourself. In the hands of others it is a convenient label to sum up, categorize, and judge others. It might be the most misguided, damaging policy I have encountered in my entire 35+ career.

Comment on Part Two: Subverting the good idea by Jason Davis (@astrosaur_us)

Jason Davis (@astrosaur_us) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 16:17:17 +0000

Ugh, sounds like a horrible idea. I can only imagine what my “character” looked like at that age. And I felt like the relationships I had with my teachers varied greatly, so I’m sure some would have rated me higher than others — pretty subjective.

Jason

Comment on Part One: Co-opting a good idea by Allison Ewoldt

Allison Ewoldt — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 01:59:12 +0000

I am waiting with bated breath for Part 2… almost literally!

Comment on Slam books and Social media by Allison Ewoldt

Allison Ewoldt — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 02:03:00 +0000

So tragic…and difficult for me to comprehend. What a profound contrast to what I experienced when I was teaching fifth grade in Dryden, NY back in 1991-92… On each child’s birthday, I requested that every student write something they appreciated about their birthday classmate. I cut the responses into strips, rolled them up, put them in medicine capsules, and placed the capsules into a medicine bottle. The “prescription” was to take out a capsule and open an appreciation whenever the recipient was feeling “low.” Seven years later these same students assembled themselves back together when they graduated from high school and gave me an appreciation party–including a medicine bottle filled with appreciations for me.

While in the waiting room of a doctor’s office yesterday, I overheard the receptionist trying to support her son in high school (by phone) about how to handle being bullied. When I mentioned it to her later, her response was that she couldn’t understand why the teacher wasn’t dealing with the situation in an appropriate manner.

We teachers can make a difference. It is time we do so!!

Thanks yet again, Liz!
Allison