Best ways to work with behaviors?

My focus, as I work through my timeline has directed me to the inequities of the education process of children with behavior problems. There are programs available for these students but many adhere to the idea of control.  It is my experience that we need to help these students learn strategies to practice self-control and not use a completely authoritarian style of management.  These are the kids that through their behaviors are asking for their needs to be met.  They are screaming for some sort of attention that teachers cannot always give to them.  It might be the quiet student or the Asperger’s student who is constantly being misunderstood. Or it might be the child who runs out of the class and hides in the corner or breaks the window, or breaks the teacher’s finger.  How do we education these children without, first, identifying their needs?  How do we manage them in the classroom…or, do we? There are many effective strategies available for teachers through classroom management techniques.  Do all teachers now take classes in effective behavior management? Can anyone share stories of situations that occurred during your lessons or experiences involving students who did not engage?  I’m also looking for possible ideas to educate these kids.  Currently, self-contained classrooms, day treatment programs, and alternative schools are used.  Any ideas for improvements?

Founding Fathers

The virtuous reasoning for the roots of America involved freedom.  Obviously, the framers only had one mirror and were unable to understand the many complexities of cultures.  If they had the foresight to envision our country as an inclusive gathering of cultures, perhaps today we would be less judgmental and exclusive. Today’s discussion/assignment was interesting on two levels.  First, to change these roots we needed a government that would accept, appreciate and tolerate our many differences. As Dr. Shutkin pointed out, had our founding fathers invited representatives from all cultures in America to learn from and about one another, I wonder how different our country would be today?   Would we have a national identity that encompasses and represents all?  Somewhere that ideal lifts our spirits.  However, our jaded past of hatred, slavery, and discrimination is contemptible.  Yet we, as a mass, continue to look for blame rather than solution. We become so entrapped in our personal views, that we cannot welcome a different perspective of another single person or group.  We scream about our rights, but cannot define them.  We scream about unfairness, but we cannot define that either.  The taboo topics that divide us into that us/them mentality still live in our country.  We can do this.  As we define and become comfortable with ourselves, we can allow the possibility of not being a ‘melting pot’ but welcoming the great diversity we have to offer. 

Two Schools 1966

My brother and I attended different high schools as the redistricting occurred in Baltimore County.  We had two very different experiences.  My school included few African American children who lived in the same area, contiguous to our neighborhood.  Everyone knew one another...and got along on a surface level.  My brother's school transferred students from Sollers Point High School at its closing.  I remember my brother talking about the "kids on the buses.  No one will let them off.  Everyone is throwing rocks at the windows and I don't care if they ever get off."  I suppose that he joined in the heinous activity but I'd like to think he didn't.  I always wonder how the kids on the buses were feeling.  What fear and hatred was in their hearts? How can that behavior be explained or condoned or accepted? 
            Please note the link Desgregation in Maryland Counties 1966 to a report on desegregation in Maryland Schools in 1966.  The language speaks to continued discrimination, as African American principals are not rehired in the new configuration. It gives a feel for the underlying attitude of benign
compliance during that era.
          Brown v Board of Ed was in 1954 and Maryland continued to have separate schools until 1966.  I remember seeing Sollers Point HS.  It was in disrepair and one cannot imagine learning in that environment. This disparity continues in the Cleveland School system where West side/East side schools has different access to materials and programs. This seems to be a theme of inner city schools nationwide.  The inequities of funding for all schools needs to be addressed.
          It has taken many years to get to where we are today.  I know it is not perfect and probably never will be perfect - but I also look at all the improvements in our society.  Things are better.