How do we work with students to ensure that they learn to respect school rules while at the same time encouraging them to question such rules?
I appreciated Mrs. Dr. Williams’ suggestion that we as teachers can start off by asking our students why they think such school rules exist. As Mrs. Dr. Williams reminded us, it is a good idea for us to understand how our schools rationalize such rules.
While it is important to understand why the rules in our future schools exist, it is crucial that we continue to actively question whether such rules are beneficial to our students. We can follow our school’s principal hallway rule/rules and hope that our boss doesn’t pop his or her head in our class everyday, or we can work with other teachers and administrators to voice our concerns about school rules that can be amended. I recognize that we as teachers will have to make compromises, but I hope that we learn to work together and not settle for things because they have been done that way for many years.
2 responses so far ↓
Paul, I think you’ve highlighted something crucial for us as teachers. We will have to work within the system, but we can’t remain satisfied or content over the current state of the system. If we “settle,” we will not effect the change we desire or set precedence for our children, encouraging them to make a difference, as well.
I thought it was a great suggestion too, Paul. I think it’s a great way for kids to question rules, and find out if they are valid rule, or if it’s an old rule that needs to be modified to fit the needs of students today.
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