What Is a Good School?

Selena Brooks

Betty Mandeville

English Composition II

February 29, 2012

What is a Good School?

Education has become a widespread topic. Growing concerns regarding education across the U.S. has politicians, educators, and parents searching for solutions. A good school should have strong leadership, measurable goals, and plans for improvement. Widespread movements concerning U.S. public schools are standards-based reform and accountability.

Out with the old and in with the new seems to be one solution everyone agrees with. The old rules are just not working or understood for the new century. Whom are we blaming? Everyone else except the main key-players, which are parents, students, teachers, and principals. Parents lack the time to be parents. Students lack the ability to pass standard test. Teachers are also below expected standards. Many schools lack the leadership to implement a successful plan for all concerned. Contributing factors to low SAT scores include lack of funding and resources for rural communities and stagnant politics. Where do we begin?

Effective schools exhibit principals, who are knowledgeable about future goals, respond to demands professionally, in addition to assisting teachers and students. Understanding and guiding teachers to be successful in the classroom requires perseverance. A principal who has taught school previously will recognize how a teacher feels and thinks. Their knowledge and experience can guide teachers and students toward projected goals. Protecting schools from difficult demands will contribute to a more positive surrounding.

Good principals are flexible: they know what they can do themselves and what they can delegate to others. (Ferrandino) Flexible principals can also reach out and engage an entire community in decisions about a school. (Ferrandino) A clear vision of where they are going enables a principal to reach out to the community. They never stop trying to solve problems.

The principal defines...