Evaluating Schools
Are
there problems in you school, but you're not sure where? The
questions listed below may help you better understand the nature and
sources of the problems. Many of the questions are based on former
State Superintendent Saul Cooperman's book, How Schools Really
Work. This section is very much a work in progress.
Contributions and suggestions are welcome.
1.
General
Questions
2.
Specific Questions
3.
Verbal Judo: Getting
Answers
See, also, Verbal
Judo with Educators
1.
General Questions
Ÿ
How do you
know if your school is working well?
Ÿ
Is it stagnating, failing or improving?
Ÿ
Do you have excellent teachers?
Ÿ
Is the school board doing a good job?
Ÿ
Is the superintendent doing a good job?
Ÿ
Is the principal doing a good job?
Ÿ
What does a good school look like?
Ÿ
How do good schools work?
Ÿ
What are the right things to do?
Ÿ
How can you tell if the school has high expectations of students?
Ÿ
What's best for the students?
Ÿ
Is there the proper disciplinary tone in the school?
Ÿ
Is the school safe?
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2.
Specific Questions
Ÿ
Are
there academic problems?
Ÿ
Are there
discipline problems?
Ÿ
Are there
teacher problems?
Ÿ
Are
there problems with the courses of study (curricula)?
Ÿ
Are there
grading problems?
Ÿ
Are there
writing problems?
Ÿ
Are
there problems with the library?
Ÿ
Are there
homework problems?
Ÿ
Are
there communication problems?
Ÿ
Are
there problems with programs for staff development?
Ÿ
Are
there problems with the principal?
Ÿ
Are
there problems with hiring & training new teachers?
Ÿ
Are
there problems with security and safety? (For now please see, "The
Appropriate and Effective Use of Security Technologies in U.S.
Schools")
Ÿ
Are
there problems with the superintendent?
Ÿ
Are
there problems with the school board?
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3.
Verbal Judo: Getting Answers
Ÿ
Defense:
It's not our fault.
Ÿ
Defense:
Things are not as bad as you might hear.
Ÿ
Defense:
Other schools have more problems than we do.
Ÿ
Defense: You get
what you pay for.
Ÿ
Defense: Admitting
problems.
Ÿ
Defense: Helplessness.
Ÿ
Defense: Negative labels.
Ÿ
Defense:
We've always done it that way.
Ÿ
Defense: We're
the professionals.
Ÿ
Defense: I
can't meet with everybody.
Ÿ
Defense: That's your
opinion.
Ÿ
Defense:
Polite listening (as avoidance).
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