When asked what he thought was the reason for so many students' poor performance in school and what accounted for the high number of disciplinary problems, Dr. Glasser would tell you it is because school is boring. This answer may offend a great many educators, who believe that they are giving their best effort in what they believe is a losing battle.

In order to understand what Glasser means when he says that "school is boring,"(Glasser, 1997, pp. 596) we must strip away the layers that build the theory upon which he supports his claim. The basis for his arguement involves human behavior and can be understood by what he identifies as Choice Theory.

Dr. William Glasser, a noted psychiatrist as well as a self-proclaimed expert on the subject of teaching, made his greatest efforts in counseling individuals on how to get along with one another. Already well known for his Reality Therapy, Glasser continues his work in the area of relationships by digging deeper and providing genetic explainations for human behavior. Over the years Glasser has taken what he has learned about behavior and turned it towards the classroom in an attempt to show the coorelation between low quality work and the high number of disciplinary problems.

Choice Theory is a biological explaination for why we behave the way we do. There are psychological and physiological reasons for certain behaviors, which means that our behaviors are internally motivated, not externally controlled. In terms of behavior management in the classroom, Glasser suggests that teachers move away from control and coercion. He encourages engaging the students in a quality learning experience, modeled through a method known as lead-management. In order for the student to become engaged he or she must perceive the education as worth while. This is what is meant by "quality."

All of us know quality when we see it; in school it is the difference between success and failure. In order to achieve quality in the classroom, students have to be managed more effectively by their teachers. Furthermore they must be asked to do work that is worth their while, and not seen as "boring." Glasser contends that school is boring because the institution is based upon myths and incorrect presumptions regarding human nature. In the dictionary the word "boring" is defined as "uninteresting, unsatisfying." Thus, in school the student is bored because they are not satisfied with uninteresting material.

Moreover, Dr. Glasser asserts that at the core of our system of education is a theory which runs contrary to human needs. This theory is called external control or, stimulus-response. It is considered to be a common-sense approach in understanding the motivations behind behavior. The problem, according to Glasser, is that this commonly held belief is really not in-line with the students mind or spirit.

Formally named Control Theory, "Choice Theory" offers a richly layered look at the human psyche. Basically, in order for progress to be made in relationships, Glasser explains, we must give up the external control psychology that is so popular in our culture. Further more, unhappiness is directly related to unsatisfying relationships. But we must address our trouble in the present, since the past cannot be changed. Certain elements such as responsibility and involvement are necessary tools that lead to change.

If you wish to learn more about Dr. Glasser's "Choice Theory," visit his web site at RealityTheory.com and the William Glasser Institute Ireland webpage.