Ron Clark

Ron Clark a young white, energetic, and idealistic teacher leaves his small North Carolina school to teach in a New York inner city elementary school, where he takes on the most unruly 6th grade class at Inner Harlem Elementary school. Mr. Clark believed he could turn the class around with innovative teaching techniques and a set of what he calls his “essential rules.” Clark quickly learns that he isn’t’ going to be able to just walk into the classroom, command attention with his smile and a set of rules; the first rule being “We are family” when none of the students in his class look like him, or talk like him. In order to know how to reach them Mr. Clark must first understand his students individually and collectively. According to Covey
Like the 6 or 7 teachers before him Mr. Clark experienced a sense of futility and had a lapse of judgment when he threw his hands up and walked out on the kids, but his own values of integrity, maturity and abundance mentality ultimately guided his decision to go back into the classroom.

Had I experienced the same thing, I probably would have sent Shameika to the principal’s office and tried to gain control of the class. As teachers and leaders we have a moral responsibility to the students, and when they are unruly it is better for them if we “let natural consequences teach responsible behavior.” (Covey P. 128). Covey states that people may not like the consequences but we should care enough for them to “suffer their displeasure.” (P. 128). If however, I lost control and acted out in aggression the way Clark did, I would not have left the class without at least letting the principal know. Even if I felt that the only course of action left was to walk away from the situation, I still have an obligation and moral responsibility not to leave the minor children in my charge alone without telling another adult at the school, especially after an emotionally charged