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Last year I was
my county’s “Teacher of the
Year” and yet I was
contemplating finding a
different occupation. As I
implemented your
system, misbehaviors stopped the
instant that students reflected
on their actions. Good students
rose to even higher levels of
maturity. Students told me they
felt more relaxed and less in
conflict with me. I am now less
stressed and feel I am helping
students make permanent changes,
rather than temporary behavior
modifications. I will not return
to the "carrot and stick"
approach that almost drove me
from the profession that I love.
—William
A. Funkhouser 2003-2004 Humboldt
County Teacher of the Year and Johns Hopkins
Educational Fellow
———
Marv, This year is a surprise for me.
I thought I had my revelation
last spring when I discovered
your approach. I implemented the system from the
beginning of this year and had the painful
revelation of how
wrong I have been over the last
13 years. It is almost painful
to reflect on who I used to be.
I was so caught up in getting
students to obey that I lost
sight of the humanity of this
profession. I was overpowering
them rather than being flexible,
understanding and compassionate.
Here is an example. I have a
student who doesn't do his
homework and who struggles in
the class. Last year he would
have had several detentions from
me and a failing grade. I would
have forced him to come in to do
his homework and we would have
been in a power struggle. This
year I purchased several school
supplies for him and have always
had a kind word for him. I
recently found out he is
actually homeless and that he
and his dad are living in a
cheap motel. Recently, he has
started spending his break time
in my class, by his own
choosing, doing his math
homework. He also drew me some
pictures on binder paper that he
wanted me to have. It breaks my
heart to think of all the
opportunities I have missed for
this type of relationship with
students. —Bill
