A SYSTEMS-ANALYSIS OF 12-STEP MEETINGS WITH A VIEW TO A THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL MODEL FOR SCHOOLS AND CLASSROOMS

While modern public education is declining, self-governing 'twelve-ste p programs' (Alcoholics Anonymous and 250 spinoffs), have been flouris hing. Developing a multilevel systems rationale that healthy systems p rosper and unhealthy systems decline, this teacher/researcher asked wh ether twelve-step program practices could inform school reform efforts . Three daily Alcoholics Anonymous meetings were selected because of t he structural similarity to secondary classrooms. Methods included obs ervation, interview, document analysis, and task and time analyses of meeting activities. Results exceeded expectation. While expecting to s ee effective learning activities, I did not expect processes to be suc h clear examples of 'new paradigm' classroom theory. Meeting texts det ailed methods for individual and group learning. Meeting activities we re efficient and authentic. Meeting scripts permitted shared leadershi p. Classroom theory was advanced with observed processes of 'display' and 'pickup'. An adaptation of the twelve-step model, EUSA, is propose d for classroom and school purposes. Further, adaptations are possible for other human activity systems.