ExchangeEveryDay Past Issues

The topics proposed are of interest. However, in the present context the SWAT analysis of teachers, adminitrators and institue/ organisation to take the desired step forward will be meaningful.

As a professor and behavior consultant for nearly forty years, challenging behaviors have and will continue to head the priority list. Unfortunately, until we shift our focus onto we can teach these children to substitute, or "become famous for something else", we will never escape the dilemna of trying to get them to surrender behaviors that work so very well for them.

As teachers, we need to learn to look at ourselves and recognize our strenghts and limitations. I strongly suggest that all educators read The Coruage to Teach by Parker Palmer and that his ideas be incorporated into our training approach. Unless we honestly explore whether teaching is our calling and help teachers to explore their strenghts and limitations, we will not have truly helpful teacher training. We need more than narrowly focused training:neither our children nor ourselves are widgets or infinately flexible empty containers that information can be poured into.

I think chatting among staff is a good subject, especially if the chatting is not productive, but negative. I would also like to see a training on professionalism among caregivers. They tend to forget that we are to be professional when dealing with our parents and the children. The other trainings that are listed are great as well. Maybe some of these can be implemented into the college courses that we are all taking.

I like the topics but I would suggest we add Leadership and/or management, psychosocial support, toy making, parenting skills, networking.

Thanks for the topics.