Essential+Agreements

Why an essential agreement? What's the point?

Today was day 1 of year two. Of course an essential agreement is an essential aspect of the first day.

All to often essential agreements represent a list of behavioral issues, when it should be everything but that. At an IB school, shouldn't it be about teaching, learning, promoting good/positive within our environment. This should definitely apply to a Staff essential agreement don't you think? I know some would argue that kids need the behavioral aspects in an essential agreement, and I can only say that I don't know what life is like in a KG classroom, but at the G2 or G3 level, kids don't need the behavioral stuff listed on an essential agreement.

I think a real good essentail agreement in a classroom is one that turns out reading like a classroom mission statement. On a staff, we already have a school mission which guides us, and so it should guide the essential agreement of the staff. Don't you think? (for the record, my school got it right this year)

My one feeling on having Behavioral stuff in a staff essential agreement is that either the person who brought up such a point is thinking that there are some unprofessional persons on the staff (who need such basic guidance) or that they them self is an unprofessional...harsh I know.

After this mini reflection on today, I can honestly say I'm exited to see how our(me and my students) classroom agreement turns out.

Will let you this time next week,

JF, 15/08/11