The reason that Dr. Glasser's theories are still alive and well today is because they are built upon sound principles such as:
- Relationships must be built upon trust and respect.
- Learning must be based upon competency and quality work, not grades--The lowest grade one can receive is a B.
- School must be a joyful and welcoming (and as William Purkey would say, "inviting") place because of a supportive, caring environment and healthy relationships.
- All the school's stakeholders (students, parents, principal, teachers, staff, etc.) must rely on the choice theory principles of survival, love/belonging, freedom/power, and fun rather than the seven deadly external control habits: criticizing, blaming, complaining, nagging, threatening, punishing, and bribing.
- The message students need to receive from teachers must be: "My job is to teach you to learn, my job is not to find out what you don't know and punish you for not knowing it."
- Teach what is useful which is more than acquiring knowledge and memorizing facts
- Don't teach with threats or punishment.
- By changing one's acting and thinking rather than a focus on what one is feeling will help one feel better.
- Make all tests open book and open help from classmates and the teacher.
What is wonderful about these principles is that they work! The lives of delinquent girls at the Ventura School in California and hard core students in a Cincinnati school were turned around when these principles were used with them.
Dr. Glasser recommends that everyone who works in a school should read the research called Protecting Adolescents from Harm (Resnick et. al, 1997). Glasser says that what this important extensive research points out conclusively is that only two groups of people can prevent adolescents from harming themselves and others: parents and teachers.
Also, Dr. Glasser has a book called Every Student Can Succeed that can be ordered from his website http://www.wglasser.com/ At this time it is $14 inclusive of postage and handling.
