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January 6, 2006
Order in the Classroom

To the Editor:

A theme raised a few times in "His Leverage Secure, the Mayor Continues to Press Public Schools" (news article, Jan. 4) was the goal of improving the behavior of students in our public schools.

The simplest method for maintaining proper discipline in school is for teachers to provide highly motivating lessons. This often takes a fair amount of forethought and careful planning.

Genuinely engaging all students in the material to be learned will keep them from pursuing disruptive behavior, which usually comes from not being properly motivated.

This time-honored method is best guaranteed with sufficient resources allocated to continued teacher professional development.

nvesting in appropriate professional development is the most efficient form of educational enhancement.

Alfred S. Posamentier
Dean, School of Education
The City College of New York
New York, Jan. 4, 2006

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