A Bill of Rights and Responsibilities for Learning: Standards of Conduct, Standards for Achievement
"The traditional mission of our public schools has been to prepare our nation`s young people for equal and responsible citizenship and productive adulthood. Today, we reaffirm that mission by remembering that democratic citizenship and productive adulthood begin with standards of conduct and standards for achievement in our schools. Other education reforms may work; high standards of conduct and achievement do work and nothing else can work without them."
For the past 2 years AFT has been developing the "Lessons for Life" campaign that focuses on standards of conduct and achievement. CHTU has endorsed these standards and formed a committee to manage our local`s campaign under the leadership of Jeff Chapman. The Lessons for Life Committee will be providing you with posters, pamphlets and other materials to support you and provide information to parents and the community. There are a number of useful online resources that complement the campaign. The online article you are reading includes additional sites not mentioned in the original print version.
The AFT Web site explains Why there is a National Campaign? It is based partly of a Public Agenda Foundation survey that found that, "For the large majority of Americans, too many public schools are not providing... a safe, orderly environment and effective teaching of the basics.... Americans across every demographic category say their local public schools are not providing the basic underpinnings for sound education." What Do Parents and the Public Think About Our Schools? summarizes surveys of public opinions. Teacher Magazine reported on the introduction of the AFT Project To Push Order And the Basics in 1995.
The campaign can be broken into two parts, each with a group of expectations for schools, staff and students.
Safe, orderly and drug free schools.
The November 1997 American Teacher looks at the relationship between building maintenance and discipline and achievement. The National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities site is recommended.
Clear discipline codes with fair and consistently enforced consequences for misbehavior.