Kagan's disengagement article

Disengagement: Achievement Gaps, Discipline and Dropout - Treating the Disease, not just the Symptoms.

"Two women are standing on the bank of a swift river. Suddenly, they see a man in the river. He desperately struggles to stay afloat, as the rapid current is carrying him downstream toward them. The women both jump in, pulling the man to safety. While the brave rescuers are tending the victim, a second man, also desperate and screaming for help, is carried by the current toward them. Again the women jump into the river to the rescue. As they are pulling out this second victim, they spot a third man flailing about as he is carried downstream toward them. One woman quickly jumps in to save the latest victim. As she does, she turns to see the other woman resolutely walking upstream. "Why aren't you helping?" she cries. "I am," states the other. "I am going upstream to see who is pushing them in!"

This education specialist uses this metaphor to explain that in education as in other areas in life, we need to treat the symptoms but not the actual root of the problem.

So far we have only treated the surface and for educators discipline problems, achievement gaps, and dropout were treated independently treating only the surface of the problem.

It is vital to treat all of them as a whole and not only the causes and consequences to stop students from leaving the school.

He chooses cooperative learning as a way of motivating students rather than working individually.

A good example of this is Roundrobin which is based in writing a story with the whole class participating in it.
This increases motivation and promotes creativiy among good and not so good level students.

http://www.kaganonline.com/free_articles/dr_spencer_kagan/262/Disengagement-Achievement-Gaps-Discipline-and-Dropout-Treating-the-Disease-Not-Just-the-Symptoms