Product reviews for When the Adults Change, Everything Changes

"This book criticises the ever-popular notion that in order to improve behaviour in schools, one must give the harshest, most punitive punishment in order to deter students from misbehaving in the future.  Dix argues that although this may deter the vast majority of students, there still exists a small proportion for whom these punitive approaches don't work which leads to a ramping up of punishments until the inevitable exclusion.

Yet, “what if we played with the cards we were dealt” and exclusion wasn't an option?  Dix offers alternative approaches that mainly stem from building solid relationships with students.  He argues that once relationships are strong, these hard-core students are often more than happy to do anything for you.  Dix argues that these hard-core students have often experienced severe trauma in their lives at some point, leading to a large distrust in adults.  As a result, they will not listen or respect you until you have first shown them how much you care about them.

The second important point is that a school culture is crucial when managing behaviour.  He indicates that “if the quickest way for a pupil to achieve celebrity in your school is by being the worst behaved, you have a culture problem.” If the correct culture exists, where people behave because its “just what you do here” then it is easier for the hard-core students to fit in.  By gaining celebrity status by misbehaving, schools with poor cultures are exacerbating the problem and probably making their behaviour worse as these students are receiving the attention they crave."

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