Criminal Minds: The Misrepresentation of Dr. William Glasser
I recently watched an episode of Criminal Minds. Near the conclusion, there is a shot of the airplane taking the team home and a voice-over begins with the words, “William Glasser wrote.” As a senior faculty member of The William Glasser Institute and someone who writes about and teaches choice theory, I was curious to hear how Dr. Glasser’s words would provide closure to the story I had just watched. Here’s what I heard: “William Glasser wrote, ‘What happened in the past that was painful has a great deal to do with what we are today.’” Read the rest
Add a Comment No CommentsChoice Theory
What is Choice Theory? Developed by psychiatrist William Glasser, Choice Theory states we are motivated by a never-ending quest to satisfy the following 5 basic needs woven into our genes: to love and belong, to be powerful, to be free, to have fun and to survive.
Add a Comment Show CommentsRace To The Top: As “Top Down” As It Gets
Let me say at the outset that I voted for Barack Obama. I anticipate he’ll get my vote again. Still, as a lifelong educator I find myself dismayed and confused about where he stands on educational issues. In his May 21 radio address, the president talked about the Booker T. Washington High School in Memphis where he delivered the commencement address last week. “We need to reward the reforms that are driven not by Washington, but by principals and teachers and parents. That’s how we’ll make progress in education — not from the top down, but from the bottom up,” the president said. Sounds reasonable to let principals, teachers, and parents drive reform efforts. (I would have added students, but then again I still believe in principles connected to “no taxation without representation.”) Read the rest
Add a Comment No CommentsTotal Behavior: A Concept that Offers Hope
The concept of Total Behavior teaches us that behavior has four components: acting, thinking, feeling, and physiology. One component doesn’t “cause” the others; they co-exist. Dr. William Glasser, the psychiatrist who developed Choice Theory, has stated on numerous occasions, “I don’t sweat (physiology) because I run (acting). I sweat when I run.” It’s not an “if…then” proposition. Read the rest
Add a Comment No CommentsPerceived Problems Demand Decisive Action (Even If It Doesn’t Help!)
Oh, and it’s the same old story
Ever since the world began.
Everybody’s got the runs for glory.
Nobody stop and scrutinize the plan.
“Learn How to Sail”
Paul Simon
“Our educational system is in shambles.” I’m not sure if that’s really true, but it has become almost a national mantra, embraced with equal vigor by those on the right and the left. You can be of any political persuasion and blithely suggest our schools are a train wreck and few would dare question the assertion. Read the rest
Add a Comment No CommentsExternal Motivation: The Quick Fix that Doesn’t Last
Alfie Kohn reviews some compelling research in a recent article, “Studies Support Rewards, Homework, and Traditional Teaching. Or Do They?” Kohn looks at three practices traditionally aligned with the carrot and stick approach to education: external rewards, homework, and direct instruction. Over the years, research appeared to routinely support these practices. Fortunately, Kohn has dug a little deeper – as usual – and unearthed studies that examined the effect of these “tried and true’ practices over time.
Add a Comment Show CommentsMerit Pay Comes to Florida!
Governor Rick Scott recently signed a bill bringing merit pay to Florida. An excited Governor Scott proudly claimed, “We are absolutely changing this country.” He has no idea how true his words are. Read the rest
Add a Comment No CommentsThe Legacy of Fear: Test Scores Rise in Washington, D.C. (As Does Suspicion)
“When it seems too good, you know it might be untrue.”
Untrue by Dinosaur Feathers
A recent article published in USA Today, “When Standardized Test Scores Soared, Were the Gains Real?” is nothing if not disturbing. Under the dictatorial leadership of former superintendent of schools, Michelle Rhee, many Washington, D.C. schools saw dramatic increases in their standardized test scores. The Crosby S. Noyes Education Campus was a poster child for school improvement – narrowly defined as “higher test scores” – and praised lavishly by Rhee. (When I say “praised lavishly,” that’s not hyperbole. In both 2008 and 2010, each teacher at Noyes received an $8,000 bonus and the principal received a $10,000 bonus. Makes you want to pump up those test scores, doesn’t it?) Read the rest
Add a Comment No CommentsAre We Driven By Fear in the Education System?
For almost four weeks, I have had the pleasure of offering a series of workshops in New Zealand. Most of the participants have been educators, although we did have one session in Wellington that attracted over 140 mental health counselors. While I have been impressed by the passion, skill, and dedication of New Zealand educators, that isn’t the thing that has stood out the most as I near the end of my time in this beautiful country. Read the rest
Add a Comment No CommentsSelf-Control: The Key to Happiness
I am frequently asked for evidence that internal control psychology/choice theory is effective. It’s a fair question. After all, if what I espouse doesn’t help us get to a better place, why would anyone want to learn about it and apply it?
When I do parents workshops, I generally ask parents what they want for their kids. Their comments vary slightly, but all parents want their kids to be successful. Interestingly, the things most parents want for their kids have now been researched as part of an impressive longitudinal study. Research headed by Duke University’s Avshalom Caspi followed 1000 children for 32 years in Dunedin, New Zealand. Read the rest
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