The Schools Our Children
Deserve
Superintendent’s Hour
Dec 5, 2014
ManCom Meeting
4 Appropriate questions to ask
according to Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC:
• a. To what extent does a given school
meet the basic psychological needs
shared by all students?
• b. To what extent does it meet every
child’s unique needs?
• c. To what extent is it likely to promote
the general long term goal of our
mission?
• d. To what extent does it reflect a
general sense of the purpose of
education?
• -Importance of school visits
• -Importance of M-V statements
What Furniture to Look for in the
Classroom
Good Signs
Possible reasons to
worry
 Chairs around tables to  Chairs all facing
facilitate interaction
forward or (even
 Comfortable areas for worse) desks in
multiple “activity centers”.
rows
 Open spaces for gathering
What to Look for against the Walls in
the Classroom
Good Signs






Possible reasons to worry about
Covered with students projects

Evidence of student collaboration

Signs, exhibits or lists obviously created 
by students not by teachers
Information
about
and
personal
mementos of, the people who spend time
together in the classroom

Painted with colors that are simple and
appropriate

Clean and elegant in their simplicity


Nothing
Commercial posters
Students’ assignments displayed that
are : a) suspiciously flawless, b) only
from the “best” students, c) virtually are
alike
List of rules created by an adult or
punitive consequences for misbehavior
Sticker chart-or other evidences of
student ranking
Policies e.g This is a drug-free school,
This is a CFSS etc are painted on the wall
Announcements through fast food
chain-sponsored banners
What to Look in the Classroom
Faces, sounds, teachers and students
Good signs
Possible reasons to worry
about
Faces
 Eager, engaged
All exchanges involve (or
 Emphasis on thoughtful exploration directed by) the teachers;
of complicated ideas
students wait to be called
 Students ask questions at least as
often as the teacher does
Sounds Frequent hum of activity and ideas being  The teachers’ voice is
exchanged
the loudest or most
often heard
Location Typically working with students so it Typically front and center
of
takes a few seconds to find him/her in
teachers the classroom
What to Look in the Classroom
Faces, sounds, teachers and students
Good signs
Possible reasons to
worry about
Teacher Respectful, genuine, warm
 Controlling
and
s’ voice
imperious
 Condescending and
saccharine-sweet
Student Welcoming, eager to explain or Either unresponsive
s’
demonstrate what they’re doing or hoping to be
reaction or to use visitor as a resource
distracted from what
to
they are doing
visitor
What to Look in the Classroom
Class discussion, stuff, Tasks
Good signs
Possible reason to worry
about
Class
 Students often address one another  All exchanges involve
discussio
directly
(or directed by) the
n
 Emphasis on thoughtful exploration of
teachers; students wait
complicated ideas
to be called
 Students ask questions at least as often  Emphasis on facts and
as the teacher does
right answers
 Students’ race to be the
first to answer the
teacher’s “Who ca tell
me…?” queries.
What to Look in the Classroom
Class discussion, stuff, Tasks
Good signs
Stuff
Tasks
Possible reason to worry
about
Room overflowing with good books, art Textbooks, worksheets and
supplies, animals and plants; science other
packaged
apparatus; “sense of purposeful clutter” instructional
materials
predominate; sense of
enforced orderliness
 Different activities often take place  All students usually
simultaneously
doing the same thing
 Activities frequently completed by  When students are not
pairs or groups of students
listening to the teacher,
they are working alone
On what to look for around the school
Good signs
Possible
to worry
Reasons
 Appealing atmosphere: a place where people  Stark,
would want to spend time
institutional feel
 Students’ projects fill the hall ways
 Awards,
 Library is well-stocked and comfortable
trophies,
and
 Restrooms in good condition
prizes displayed,
 Faculty lounge is warm and inviting
suggesting
an
 Students helping in lunchroom, library and
emphasis
on
with other school functions
triumph rather
than community
Thank You