ABSTRACT
This chapter presents one internal standard that supports effective practices: When making decisions, ask, “Who is most comfortable and who is least comfortable in this situation?” A more effective approach would be to call the small number of negligent parents making them more likely to change their behavior. This message is just as effective a reminder to the small number of parents who were not there to pick up their children. The difference is that the note reinforces the good behavior. It makes the prompt parents more comfortable and the late ones uncomfortable. A teacher considering whether to have students grade each other’s papers and call out the grades for the teacher to record them might ask, “Who is most comfortable in this situation?” The students with low grades surely aren’t comfortable. Effective educators find that this ground rule—make the people who do the right thing feel comfortable—works for them too. They feel more comfortable with their decision making.
