The principal recounted an incident in which the students made their voices heard - or more precisely - seen. When the seventh grade social studies students were studying Martin Luther, they learned that in Luther's time, people expressed their complaints by posting them in a conspicuous place. The teacher suggested that students try out the technique.

Arriving at her office several mornings later, the principal was startled to find what she described as a "long, brown paper scroll hanging down from my door. It had all these student concerns with a little edict down on the bottom that said, "We expect you will address these concerns with us. We are available fourth hour in Mr. C.'s social studies class."

The principal took the concerns seriously. She felt that the students had some good points, and said so when she went to meet with them. For example, the students asked for full-length mirrors in the restrooms; this struck Dr. Stack as a reasonable request, and they have now been installed. As the principal describes it, "I sat up on a stool in front of the room, and told them what I was not going to be able to change. But, I said, I will tell you why I can't because there is a law against this or that or a board policy - and, I said, those things that can be changed, we will take a look and see what we can do. It went well."

Dev. Responsiveness BACK

Dev. Responsiveness NEXT

Schools to Watch Home | Our Criteria | Visit Our Schools | Links | Tell a Friend | Talk to Us | National Forum