Rather Than "Fixing Kids" - Transform the Environment

Another interesting read. My directed study one-on-one advisor, Ryan Henderson, an instructor in the Interior Architecture & Design department at the Academy of Art University, informed me about this website, TRIBESTLC.COM. Their goal is to create a positive school/classroom environment through improving student behavior and learning. They contend that changing the environment of the school system itself, such as establishing caring and supportive relationships, setting positive and high expectations, and offering opportunities for meaningful participation, will the key to improvement, rather than the traditional approach of "fixing" the children through funding more programs for individual treatment, behavioral control, remedial programs, etc. They say that all these attempts to fix the children are just overwhelming our schools and doing not much else.

Very similar thinking to my thesis project, though I've ventured to hypothesize that even the child's physical environment makes a huge difference the way students will learn.

We'll have to see how my thesis plays out as I do more research and future on-site interviews at public middle schools. In the meantime, check out the article:

Rather than "Fixing Kids" - Transform the Environment