The Link: Volume 16, Number 1, Spring 1997

AEL--Linking the knowledge from research with the wisdom of practice
to improve teaching and learning

Volume 16
Number 1
Spring
1997

Special Issue

Respectful Learning Environments

This past spring, AEL conducted an Education Issues Forum in each of the Region's four states. Together, the forums convened 150 principals, teachers, parents, community members, students, and superintendents from rural, urban, and suburban areas to discuss issues facing local schools as they strive to provide quality education for all children.

More similarities than differences were found in perceptions of schools across groups and communities. Diverse conversations took place across the sites, but participants in all four states talked at length about school-parent-community relationships. All seemed to want improved relationships seen as key to solving problems associated with classroom disruptions and incidents of school violence. The diverse student population that schools serve today also appears to have made the delivery of education services a more complex endeavor. Some schools have created new education and social service programs to meet diverse local needs.

Interest in such issues across the forums is evidenced in these highlights of findings:

· Participants felt good about the schools in their communities that exhibit a child-centered, caring nature.

· Parents and educators alike want improved school communications and parent involvement.

· Some schools provide parenting education to increase parent involvement.

· In all four states, the inclusion of special education students in the regular classroom was a struggle that some schools had overcome, but others viewed as still problematic.

· While viewing alternative education programs as generally successful, participants believed they create some problems as well.

· An increasingly culturally diverse population is challenging to educators in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia.

· Participants expressed concern about school safety issues; participants perceive that steps taken to remedy the problems have met with success.

· Participants perceived that school counselors today are expected to play many roles in schools across the Region.

· Participants seemed to think schools that focus on student achievement are successful at improving student performance.

The focus on school-parent-community relationships and diverse student populations inspired us to choose Respectful Learning Environments as the theme for this issue.

In this issue:

This publication is produced with funds from OERI Contract Number RJ96006001.
The contents herein do not necessarily reflect the policies or views of AEL or OERI.

Regional Educational Laboratory / ERIC Clearinghouse / National Science Foundation Projects
Math/Science Consortium / Region IV Comprehensive Center / Technology in Education Consortium
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