Students Accountability for Their Learning - What a Concept!

One thing HAS BEEN missing within the school systems for as long as when I 'went' to school myself and for as long as I've taught. Schools have not specifically and systematically made their students accountable for their part in the learning process. I've thought about this for years!! How can a child possibly learn when he/she is either NOT at school or DOES NOT do assigned work when at school. Makes NO SENSE to me. I started asking around...teachers, parents, kids....initially they all said, “You can't make the kid do the work....you can't make the kid attend school.” Of course, we DO have laws about school attendance...but haven't been enforced with much success.

My teachers began to ask, why CAN'T kids be required to do school work. We asked ourselves and others was it a 'reasonable' rule to say students must do school work. It seemed to us...YES!!! We implemented a 'card' system for 'tracking' who was and who wasn't doing assignments. The system included daily contact with parents; having the 'card' signed, email, phone calls (which is MUCH more doable when there is a phone in the classroom). When kids did not have assignments, parents were notified. When this happened 5 times (&/or 5 minor classroom distractions), the school issued a consequence. AMAZINGLY, this was very successful! Previously, I would have 3 to 5 kids daily and in every class choosing not to complete work I assigned. Currently, I'll go several weeks with no 'zeros.' We discovered who could 'do' and those who could not 'do.' WE WERE ABLE TO TEACH MORE EFFICIENTLY WITH MORE SUCCESS!!!

If teachers and schools are going to be held accountable....as we should be, kids and parents HAVE TO BE partners and be accountable as well! THEN and ONLY THEN will we ALL be SUCCESSFUL!!