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7th out of 35 books
—
3 voters
Quality School RI
by
William Glasser (Goodreads Author)
The renowned author of "Reality Therapy" argues that we can save our schools only by radically retooling the way we teach.
Paperback, 192 pages
Published
July 9th 1998
by Harper Perennial
(first published January 1st 1900)
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The Quality School owes its whole premise to Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, but unfortunately its author, Dr. William Glasser, is neither the philosopher nor the rhetorician that Robert Pirsig is. The Quality School suffers from bland writing and poorly explicated ideas, although the concepts themselves are for the most part worthwhile. Dr. Glasser makes no attempt to define quality (even to say, as Pirsig did initially, that Quality by its nature cannot be defined) until the end of...more
With the modern push toward standardization in education, fueled further by the No Child Left Behind legislation, it seems fitting –if not terribly desirable– that students be compared with workers and school with a factory. Dr. William Glasser, however, turns that analogy against those who would unwisely use it. In his thought-provoking volume on choice theory, The Quality School, Glasser uses as a point of departure the success obtained by Dr. W. Edwards Deming as he endeavored to transform p...more
The main message presented in this book, the backbone of Glasser's compassionate educational philosophy, is quite possibly the most important boiled-down concept in teaching. Unfortunately, it sometimes feels a little Utopian and idealistic, leaving the reader wondering how on Earth it could ever be implemented on a large scale, but only because the ingrained culture of education in America is so counter to it. Regardless, the book, its message, and Glasser's obvious humanistic values transcend...more
Mar 15, 2009
Mr. Z
added it
William Glasser tries to put into simple terms what many schools and educators are doing wrong and gives suggestions about changes they can make to start doing things more in line with choice theory. Just like a business leader who bosses and intimidates people is less likely to gain a loyal following, a teacher who bosses and intimidates students is less likely to gain a following of students who are learning at their maximum efforts. By offering students more choices in the way they best learn...more
The Quality School was recommended to me by Paul Koenig. Paul is at instructional coach at North View, and he mentioned the book as we were discussing the joy of successful teaching. TQS has been a game changer for my pedagogy and a cornerstone of my teaching philosophy. I look forward to inspiring students by helping them identify the quality they are capable of producing. As TQS explains, this will lead them placing school in their quality worlds and meeting basic needs through success in the...more
This is the book that introduced me to the pioneering work of management expert W. Edwards Deming at the beginning of my career and sparked my interest in Quality Theory. Glasser applies to the classroom the philosophical approach that Deming used so successfully to help the Japanese rebuild their industrial base following World War II. Specifically, Glasser describes how educators can manage students in a non-coercive way that will empower children to produce quality work, improve continuously...more
I had to read this book for a job interview, but it had a lot of interesting ideas. It deals with the idea that people/students will only do what they fell fulfill one of their basic needs: survival, love, belonging, freedom, and power. As a teacher, we need to convince students that what we ask them to do does fulfill one of these needs. This book talks about dealing with minor and major classroom disruptions, grades, standardized tests, counseling, and how to take a "regular" school and turn i...more
Tips and pointers on how to create a better school. The book was okay but really dry and hard to read in certain spots. I would not recommend this to many, especially outside the educational system.
If you are a teacher wondering how to control those bad kids in this classroom, I suggest you read this book. You may find that the problem rests with your method of teaching...
The sub-title of this book is "Managing Students without Coercion", which should be enough inspire you to pick up this book. I have begun making a list of the things I want to try to do with my children at home, as well as with the children in my Commonwealth School, because I am so inspired by the concept of creating conditions that meet the needs of the children so that they are willing to do really high-quality work--to work hard at their education. What a great book for all those who practic...more
Glasser's theories are interesting, but can only go so far in classroom implementation.
There's some good ideas, but overall not much in common with reality and practice.
Apr 07, 2009
Jenny
added it
read in 2005
Dr. Glasser provides an uplifting solution to the problems of many schools. Teachers and parents can feel good about his suggestions since his optimism and belief that every child can succeed is contagious. To be fair, much has happened in the educational world since standards and high stakes testing came to rule the landscape, but many of Glasser's basic ideas are helpful nonetheless.
I really enjoyed a great deal of this book. Especially where it dealt with attempting to bring education into students' quality world by changing your classroom into one in which coercion is never used.
William Glasser believes in creating relevant assignments for students that help kids to see the connections between school and their world.
I did not read this for the school environment, but for the 'non-coercive' approach to managing. An excellent book, not really dated.
May 07, 2013
Emily
is currently reading it
Apr 21, 2013
Cindy
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Apr 14, 2013
Leonardo
marked it as to-read
Apr 14, 2013
Tammy Lloyd
marked it as to-read
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Mar 06, 2011 07:16pm