I asked my class this question, having first considered the Time article on merit pay and the WAPO article on National Board Certification. And I realized midway through their answers that I had constructed the question badly. I wasn’t asking how teachers overcome the significant structural forces aligned against them — lack of prestige, lack of time, etc — but rather how they could improve on their own.

In other words, what do teachers need to do in order to maintain a thoughtful teaching practice? What needs to be in place for teachers, new teachers especially, to continue to re-think their practice?

Five starting points:
1. You must respect your students.
2. You must believe in your students.
3. You must trust your students.
4. Your intentions must be clear.
5. You cannot use academic work you want students to do as part of your disciplinary approach.

Five Statements
1. Be fair and consistent…but you don’t need to treat all students the same way.
2. Don’t make threats…but follow through if you do.
3. Discipline isn’t personal…but you are a human being.
4. The culture of the school may trump your efforts…but don’t give up.
5. Your whole class needs to reinforce the academic and “civic” culture of your room…but you can’t force them to do so.