BEYOND DISCIPLINE: FROM COMPLIANCE TO COMMUNITY

BY: ALFIE KOHN

PRESENTED BY: DARNITA NASHAND

CJ STARNES

WHO IS ALFIE KOHN?

An American author, lecturer, and former teacher.

He explores, writes, and speaks out on a number of topics that deal with education, parenting, and human behavior.

Has written about a dozen (12) books Considered a leading figure in

progressive education. A critic on several of the traditional

aspects of

Parenting Managing American Society

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A controversial figure, particularly among the behaviorists, the conservatives, and everyone else who defends the specific practices he calls into question.

Specific Practices in Question Competition Incentive Programs Conventional Discipline Standardized Testing Grades Homework Traditional Schooling

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According to Kohn, there is a difference between “working with” and “doing to” classes.

“Doing to” classes include “compliance, punishment and rewards, grading and reliance on marks or test results.”

“Working with” classes include “active participation, high interest, discovery, and love of learning.”

OVERVIEW OF KOHN’S MODEL

The focus needs to shift from student achievement to student learning.

Teachers should allow their students to make their own choices; the students cannot learn how to make their own choices if they are always being told what to do.

Tougher standards don’t equal better students. The tougher standards only add unnecessary pressure and they don’t consider the individual characteristics of the students.

Punishments and rewards only offer temporary changes in the students behavior. They never help the students to develop a commitment to positive values.

Too much praise from the teacher to the students can create "praise junkies."

TEACHER’S RESPONSIBILITIES

DO’S DO: Be a facilitator DO: Provide an engaging and fun

curriculum that the students will enjoy

DO: Give the students ownership when it comes to decision making, roles, and responsibilities

DO: Teach unconditionally DO: Look at the students

separate from their behavior DO: Put an end to all rewards,

punishments, and congratulatory remarks, such as "good job“ and “excellent

DO: Create an unconditional and caring community (class meetings)

DO: Design the classroom as a comfortable and safe place

DON’TS DON’T: Be a dictator or an

instructor DON’T: Provide a (boring)

curriculum that only you as a teacher are excited about

DON’T: Create an environment of power and control

DON’T: Teach conditionally DON’T: Combine the students

and their behavior as one DON’T: Give out rewards to the

students when they perform or behave nicely

Don’t: Punish the students when they misbehave

DON’T: Say congratulatory remarks to the students.

STUDENTS’ RESPONSIBILITIES

THE STUDENTS SHOULD…

be able to make their own decisions

have choice and control over learning

have some say about what they are doing

choose which questions they want to explore

learn and apply learning

THE STUDENTS ARE…

responsible for their own behavior

and are capable of controlling

their own behavior

PROS vs. CONS

PROSEmpowerment The students learn how to

make their own choices.

Encouragement The students are

encouraged to think on a higher level.

Optimism Optimism paints a pretty

picture of learning and classroom interaction.

CONSWhat Is The Standard

Model? There is no standard model for us

to follow. There are no clear and specific steps to achieve this ideal.

What Is Right? Kohn’s Model tells you what is

wrong with the standards and the norms, but we are left wondering what is right.

Every Student Is NOT The Same!!!

According to Kohn’s Model, every student in the classroom will respond positively to his ideas.

KEY VOCABULARY

Community- By community Kohn means… “A place in which students feel cared about and are encouraged to care about each other. They experience a sense of value and being respected; the children matter to one another and to the teacher. They have come to think in a plural: they feel connected to each other; they are part of an ‘us.’ And as a result of this, they feel safe in their classes, not only physically, but emotionally.”

--Democracy

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Class Meetings- According to Kohn, class meetings usually involve sharing, deciding, planning, and reflecting.

“(1) Sharing: Students decide whether they want to speak or not.

(2) Deciding: Students decide on matters that affect the class such as procedures and furniture arrangement.

(3) Planning: Planning should be done for fieldtrips, raising money, etc…

(4) Reflecting: A good place to think about progress, what has been learned, what might have worked better, and what changes might help the class. “

WORKS CITED

http://www.nais.org/publications/ismagazinearticle.cfm?ItemNumber=144263

http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2007/12/opposing-view-4.html

http://www.nais.org/publications/ismagazinearticle.cfm?Itemnumber=150652&sn.ItemNumber=145956

http://www.alfiekohn.org/teaching/edweek/staiv.htm

http://www.alfiekohn.org/teaching/aero.htm

http://www.alfiekohn.org/parenting/gj.htm