A Critique of the Thomas Gordon Model

The Thomas Gordon model of classroom management is an interesting classroom management model that asks teachers to become equals with their students, throw out class rules, teach problem-solving skills and use “I-messages” when behavior problems come up.

Lets take a look at each of these four aspects of Gordon’s model:

Become Equal with Your Students

The idea here is that a good leader will not dictate to his followers but come from another angle that creates mutual respect. Teachers are to engage in active listening where they repeat back to the student what the student said, in the teachers own words, to indicate that he understood.

The benefit of this concept is that in an adult situation, leaders who do not dictate get a better response from followers. The issue is that students are not yet adults. In fact, research shows that the decision making part of their brain is not fully matured for quite some time, making it vital for the teacher to set boundaries and limitations on the students.

Throw Out Class Rules

The actual concept here is that students will together come up with what Gordon calls “agreements” in place of teacher dictated “rules”. They are to be hung where all students can see them.

This is not dissimilar to hundreds of teachers who have their students come up with the class rules at the beginning of the school year, with the exception of the name. The benefit of calling the rules “agreements” is that this might make children who are driven to push the rules, to instead, follow them. The problem with this is that in the end, agreements are nothing more than class rules.

Teach Problem Solving Skills

There is a process to solving a problem:

1. Identify the problem
2. Identify several solutions to the problem
3. Choose a solution mutually agreeable to all involved
4. Implement solution
5. Determine the solution’s success

I see no problems with this at all. In fact, I think more parents and teachers should use this problem solving strategy in their classrooms and homes. Children need to learn how to solve problems.

Use I-Messages

An I-message is one that explains how one person’s behavior affected you and made you feel. For example, “when you do that, it makes me feel this way”. This is the method that teachers are to handle discipline issues in the classroom.

The only benefit, if it is a benefit, that I can find with this is that it does not confront students head-on. It does help to identify ones feelings, but in the end, many students couldn’t care less how their teacher felt about their behavior. This aspect of Gordon’s model of classroom management has the potential to make a lot of teachers very permissive.

Find out more about the Thomas Gordon Model of Classroom Management:

Using the Thomas Gordon Classroom Management Method

The Gordon Model

Thomas Gordon (this is another critique)

Gordon Training International (the official website)

Related posts:

1. Classroom Management a Team Issue
2. Reflection is the Best Remedy
3. Lesson Plans that Prevent Discipline Problems
4. Home Visits May Reduce Discipline Issues
5. Three Classroom Management Mistakes