Comments on: The Peace Tree

By: Angelo

Angelo — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 19:30:27 +0000

Dear Ms. Ah…..I admire your tenacity…..As a former teacher in small towns, it was great to have access to most parents…..I appreciate your patience and persistence…I’ll never forget how you took on the whole community- high school, school board, and parents as well as who else was standing around ………You have always been hot…..take care, Angelo

By: Ms. Aha-Moment

Ms. Aha-Moment — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 14:37:42 +0000

Thanks to all of you for your responses to The Peace Tree! The first year (or two, or three….) of teaching feels like groping around in the dark. I was overwhelmed with the curricululm and assessment demands and even by well-intentioned advice! Teaching hinges upon engaging a room full of children (or adults) several hours a day, five days a week. As Bronxactivist says it takes help from many sources collaborating together for the well-being of the schoolchildren. As for data, what I experienced was that there isn’t much to measure if learning is constantly being disrupted by conflict in the classroom. Once cooperation is established in the classroom, learning can take place.

By: Bronxactivist

Bronxactivist — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 05:07:16 +0000

I am glad that this worked well for you it just shows that teachers should be given latitude to decide what feels best for the class along with parent involvement. When children feel as if they are something bigger then themselves they tend to react better especially when they see the parents and teachers are working together. This is the cooperation and collaboration that should be encouraged in schools while allowing creativity of all the parties involved. Many people may feel that what you did was not important if the students data did not improve but I believe you impacted the children greatly. You planted the seeds and allowed the children to grow.

By: Doug Wagner

Doug Wagner — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 21:43:12 +0000

Never underestimate the power of Peace… and..oh yeah…an Ice Cream Party! Nice story!

By: Joan

Joan — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 05:05:10 +0000

Way to go, Ms Aha. It seems you used some creativity with this problem and nothing is better than that. Those kids were so lucky to have you for a teacher.

By: Joni

Joni — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 04:35:07 +0000

What a great story! It gave me chills! I love that the Disrupters were humbled and wanted to contribute to the peace tree as well. This is a beautiful idea!

By: L

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 03:10:06 +0000

I read your article and was amazed that someone could read my mind. I’ve been out of the classroom for years. I went back to the classroom this year. I also hoped I would have the peaceful and loving class that you imagined. I was given the identical “tools ” to manage my class. I wish I had been as creative as you are to come up with the Peace tree. I wish you many happy years as a teacher.

By: Jeanne Harrah Johnson

Jeanne Harrah Johnson — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:10:04 +0000

A genuine story of success. It’s soul and life-affirming that something so concrete and observable, so positive, could influence the behavior of the Serious Disrupters and the entire community of learners.