2007 Media Releases
Tuesday 06 November, 2007
Helping teachers to help students act responsibly
Top-rating comedy-drama ‘Summer Heights High’ has left some tantalising questions about discipline in our schools: did the system fail Jonah? And if so, what can be done about it?
With impeccable timing, this year’s La Trobe University Faculty of Education Dean’s Lecture will address such questions head on.
A specialist researcher in classroom discipline, Dr Ramon Lewis will speak on the topic of student responsibility and classroom management, in a lecture titled: Helping Teachers Help Students Act Responsibly.
The lecture, hosted by the University’s Shepparton campus, will be held at 5.45pm on Wednesday, 7 November at the Shepparton High School Auditorium, Hawdon Street, Shepparton.
Dean of Education, Professor Lorraine Ling, says the free public event is an excellent opportunity for teachers, parents and people working in the community with youth or in student welfare to gain an insight into dealing with difficult children and students at risk.
Dr Lewis says there is great interest nationally and internationally in developing responsible behaviour in children, stimulated by a perceived decline in student values and a belief that ‘preparing good citizens’ is the most important purpose of our education system.
He says research data show that teacher aggression and, to a lesser extent, punishment, are ineffective in fostering student responsibility. In contrast, classroom techniques built around relationships such as ‘hinting, discussion, recognition and involvement’ are consistently productive.
Dr Lewis highlights the need for staff development and establishment of a code of behaviour for teachers which avoids aggressive discipline strategies. Students should be allowed to have some input into the development of the code.
‘For such a code to be effective, the culture of the school needs to become collegial to the extent that teachers using unacceptable discipline are seen as requiring support rather than condemnation,’ Dr Lewis says.
Further information
Tel: 03 5444 7885, email: dean.edu@latrobe.edu.au or visit: www.latrobe.edu.au/education