著者

古庄 高 Takashi FURUSHO

雑誌

神戸女学院大学論集 = KOBE COLLEGE STUDIES

巻号頁・発行日

vol.54, no.2, pp.139-152, 2008-01-20

---

Even though school education in Japan has been confronted with many difficulties, we cannot find a new step in the right direction. Parents want their children to make progress with achievement and to go to famous university, but many students lose their eagerness for study. We cannot get a clue to resolve such a lot of problems as bully, absence from school, disobedience, refusing to learn, disturbance of lessons, temper tantrum and so on. A. Adler said that the school has always tried to educate individuals according to what the times and the rulers demanded. That is to say the school has the responsibility of preparing the child's adjustment to social life. Today in accordance with the changing social ideal the school must change its autocratic ways and try the democratic approach. But teachers have not been trained to teach the skills of living in a democracy. They have not been taught democratic leadership, neither. This ignorance seems to be the cause of most of the chaos in our schools. The theory and practice grounded on Adlerian psychology will show us how to establish a democratic classroom. The principle underlying a democratic classroom implies that there should be mutual respect and social equality. Mutual respect means treating every person with respect and is based upon acceptance of the equality of human beings. To live as equals with our fellow humans, we must cooperate with them. Children need training in cooperative techniques because when they first come to school, they are better prepared for competition than for cooperation. The teacher may start with a group discussion about what democracy is and lead the pupils to realize that democracy implies shared responsibility, shared decision making, and cooperation. Group discussions and class meetings are the means by which children can integrate themselves into the class as a unit with status, responsibility, and active participation.

著者

古庄 高 Takashi FURUSHO

雑誌

神戸女学院大学論集 = KOBE COLLEGE STUDIES

巻号頁・発行日

vol.55, no.2, pp.85-96, 2009-01-20

---

It is difficult to prepare children for responsible citizinship today, because we cannot share easily common values, common ideas, common ideals in the society of information technology. Presently our school system is confronting with a dilemma about teaching academic knowledge and the important life skills. The autocratic teacher may impose his ideas and assume the sole responsibility of making all decisions and rules for the class to obey, but the pupils themselves will not accept this kind of leadership any more. Often the teacher feels helpless and the classroom becomes chaotic. The successful formula for guiding pupils in the classroom is based on the principles of freedom and responsibility. Adlerian psychology and Positive Discipline emphasize the importance of regularly scheduled family and class meetings which teach children essential life skills, self-discipline, and cooperation. Adults turn from the system of rewards and punishments and encourage young people when they make mistakes. A set of basic concepts provided by Adlerian psychology will help us increase our understanding of children and of ourselves. Positive Discipline shows how to practice effective class meetings.