An Interview with Jim Roy
This interview took place on September 11, 2014, at Lower Lake High School in Lower Lake, California. Chris Kinney, who led the interview, teaches Social Studies and Technology classes at the high school and has more recently been given the school’s broadcasting program. Besides being posted to YouTube the interview will also be shown on a local Clearlake television channel.
Chris Kinney and Jim Roy
Chris, a former student of mine who completed his teaching credential through Pacific Union College, is an incredible example of what can be accomplished when belief, energy, and commitment come together. He wants to empower his students to achieve success and he sees the principles of choice theory as essential in that process.
After a recent class discussion one of Chris’s students shared the following on her/his Facebook page –
“Ok, I meant to post this last night, but I was really tired. Ok, so yesterday one of my teachers, whom I highly respect and look up to, gave a mind blowing speech on choice theory. He went on and on about how our education system is very messed up and is only a grade, not actually showing off the experience you learned in the class. It’s what your grade says, not what your brain says. He then went on about how everyone in life is only trying to fill their basic needs, which is literally in every case scenario. He then talked about how school is literally the only place that you will be told you fail in your life, and as soon as he said that my mind was amazed. I couldn’t believe how much all this theory made sense and actually should be in all schools. Sadly the state doesn’t want you to have experience and know what you’re doing; they want you to have a good grade on a test or a quiz.”
The principles of choice theory are empowering, and because of that it appeals to high school students, middle school students, and even elementary students. Like Glasser used to say, “There is nothing in choice theory that a six year old can’t understand.”
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The eBook version can be accessed at –
https://www.zeigtucker.com/product/william-glasser-champion-of-choice-ebook/
The paperback version can be accessed at –
or from Amazon at –
Signed copies of Champion of Choice can be accessed through me at –
The Better Plan . . 
I was present for this and enjoyed it immensely. Thank you for coming to Lake County. Chris Kinney is very good at what he does and a shining example of Choice Theory and it’s classroom applications.
It was a pleasure for me to be a part of the evening. I want to support Chris in whatever way I can.
Great talk! Love hearing the story of the old lady calmly mentoring the troubled girl in Ventura.
I was also interested to hear about the process of “matching the picture in our heads” (around minute 36), and the difficulties and internal hardship that result from a disconnect between those pictures and our reality.
It also struck me how profound the idea of remembering kids have basic needs (minute 41) could be in an educational setting. i think the process you mentioned, of being able to recognize these needs rather than be threatened by them, has transformational power for people who embrace it (either in classroom’s or intrapersonal relationships).
Awesome stuff.
Great specific feedback! Thank you.