Buck

I have spent a lot of time reading about what allowed the Orioles to turn around this year.  One of the things that i found interesting is that the players started to regulate themselves.  If a player did not hustle down to first base, Adam Jones, would explain that is not how we play baseball in Baltimore.  They created an environment in which they did not want to let each other down.

My question is, can we do this in education?  Can we self regulate.  As a teacher can I tell other teachers that we do not show movies that are not in the curriculum the day before Christmas?  Should I tell teachers that we teach bell to bell and that is what makes us great here at Dulaney?  Should the teachers all be doing this with each other creating an environment where we do not want to let each other down?  Sharing best practices and helping each other provide students with the best product possible.

I never heard a teacher complain that they are getting too much positive reinforcement.  Should teachers be in charge of the morale in the building.  Making sure that every teacher feels that they bring something to the party and that they are an important part of making that school successful.  Is self-regulation the formula that will make schools change from good to great.

Now can we even take this to the next level.  Can students self regulate?  Can a student tell another student stop cheating because we do not cheat in Mr. Bressler's class.  Can students motivate and push each other to be the best that they can be in the classroom?  What do we have to do to make this happen in our schools?