The book is called Who Cares. It's an interesting read.
Sounds like a very interesting new approach. I will have to see if I can find the book.
Personally, I think that saying that school is a childs "job" is the best comparison. It really is. Until I was 18, my "job" was to attend school, just as it is my dads "job" to show up to work everyday.
I understand what you're saying. I really do. I think people get upset, though, when it seems as if the school's policies take precedence over the parent's desires for their child.
I hear a lot of people say that school is their child's job. I prefer to think that it is my child's job to learn, and ideally that is done in all kinds of different environments -- not just school.
A student is the equivalent of someone who is self-employed and school (if it's paid for) is the equivalent of buying Office Professional to help with your home business. If it's not paid for (public schooling) its freeware.
I never thought of it like that. Interesting.
I would say that if the school is the company then the customer is society. The schools are educating our children for the good of society.
So, where does that put the student?
An employee works. A client pays for a service that a business is to provide for their specifications and within the law.
To view a student as a client downplays their responsibility in it to do the work. They have the right to an education, but they don't have the right to nitpick their way to an outcome as a client might for a business relationship.
A student is in no way a client, IMHO. Yes, I homeschool and I tell my children consistently that they must work. It isn't an option to refuse to so it because they don't like something. The only time the student is a client is when they have a special need that must be addressed to make success possible.
Have you ever worked with a client vs an employee? Big difference in the two.
Yes. I am well aware of the differences between a client and an employee, and yes, I have worked with both.
A student (well, the parents anyway) through taxes are paying for a service. I also posted clarifying that I wasn't talking about overly demanding or slacker parents. As a homeschooler, though, I'm sure you realize that learning is not one size fits all, and schools simply cannot meet all those different types of learners needs equally. Should they not even try, though, to meet the needs of the kinesthetic learners as well as they meet the needs of the visual and auditory learners?
On a side note...there are employers who do serve their employees.
It is possible to demonstrate "customer service" in am employer/employee relationship.
It is a slippery slope to place student and families in a client role.
As much flak as the teachers and school systems received, the tables may tip so far that the relationship is treated like servant/master.
Teachers are not slaves nor their to be at the whim of students amd their families.
Whoa!!! I have never said that teachers are slaves or even implied that they should be.
And yes, there are companies that treat their employees well, and those employees, in turn, are very loyal to those companies and are more often than not, willing to go the extra mile when needed.
What about - ?
A student is to a school as...
a gym member is to a personal trainer.
Yes, in a way, you are the "client", BUT you have hired the trainer because you trust his/her professional knowledge - and you pretty much do what he/she recommends if you expect to get the results you're paying for.
Ahh..... this is a good one, and I think possible best fits my own personal thoughts. Thanks for posting it.
For every parent who wants to take responsibility and doesn't want the teacher trying to nanny their child there's a parent who expects the teacher to spoon feed the kid everything. Sometimes you just can't win.
