A Special Welcome
From Mrs. Gale
Welcome
back students and parents of Albert Schweitzer School, and welcome to the new
families joining our community. I
am looking forward to a wonderful year filled with learning, laughter,
friendship, and harmony. My goal for this year is to promote responsibility and
self control. Helping children to
be self reliant and responsible for their own behavior will afford them the
benefit of increased self awareness and self esteem.
Developing intrinsic rewards, such as pride and self respect, lessen the
needs for external rewards and/or punishments.
Independent thinking and decision-making are skills that are necessary
for our children to navigate their way in our ever changing world.
Look at the table below that was reprinted from the Teacher Education
Institute:
|
An
obedient child… |
A
responsible child… |
|
Relies
on authority figures |
Is
self-reliant |
|
Is
unable or unwilling to make decisions |
Is
able and willing to make decisions |
|
“Performs”
for teacher or staff |
Does
what he or she feels is right |
|
Misbehaves
when authority figure is absent |
Behaves
according to conscience |
|
Goes
along with the crowd |
Makes
independent decisions |
|
Learns
and does the minimum |
Develops
a thirst for knowledge and mastery |
|
Is
reactive, waits for instruction |
Is
proactive, takes initiative |
|
Blames
outside forces for his or her actions |
Takes
responsibility for own actions |
My hope for this school year is that each student gains a deeper
understanding of what being responsible for one’s own actions means, and how
it impacts one’s self-concept and community environment.
Throughout the school year I hope to heighten the students’ awareness
of responsibility through classroom presentations, small group interventions,
and one to one modeling of decision-making and independent thinking skills. Please know that I am available to you, also, to discuss any
concerns or issues regarding your child. Here’s to a wonderful school
year………!
Mrs.
Peggy Gale
Guidance Counselor
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