What’s one of the most serious problems with kids
today?
Discipline, most parents and teachers will agree. But that
doesn’t necessarily mean more or even stricter rules, believes Lazares, an
experienced school administrator with a special interest in middle-school students.
Instead, he tells parents and teachers how to make sure
rules and penalties—at home and at school—are clear; if anyone can find a
loophole, it’s a teenager. Communicate your rules and monitor infractions. And when
punishment is necessary, think creatively: what’s the easiest way to ensure a child
will never break this rule again?
If you’re the parent or teacher of a challenging
child, you’ll appreciate this book’s recommendations for getting kids back on
the path to success. If you’re a parent concerned about your local school’s
discipline policies, you’ll find helpful advice in “Questions and Answers for
Parents.”
John Lazares has been a public school educator for 27
years: a teacher, a principal and now a superintendent. The founder of a new alternative
school for at-risk kids in grades 7-12, he is a recipient of the National Public School
Relations Award of Honor. Coleen Armstrong spent 30 years teaching grades 7-12. An
award-winning journalism teacher, she hosts a television talk show on educational topics.
