I created this schematic to provide a MeshWORK analysis/Spiral interpretation of the causes of bad behaviour in so many of Britain's school classrooms. It is based upon my own experiences as a part-time teacher and discussions with a range of teachers, including Kevin Beaton at (Kingswood High, Hull), Sheila Kaye (Whitgift, Grimsby), Angela Ogilvie (St Mary's College, Hull), Steve Graham (Cleve Primary, Hull), Chris Massender (Westcliffe Primary, Scunthorpe), Cathy Byrne (Danepark Primary, Hull) and Jennie Beasty and Lynne Clarke (Shaw Park Primary, Hull).

The schematic is, as these teachers point out, a generalisation and should not divert attention away from the many positive things going on in many schools.

Nonetheless, the schematic does identify the roots of so many of the problems and how so many situations are compounded by the best of intentions.

'A Downward Spiral...' was developed as part of a package of training materials in February 2001 and was used by Spiral Dynamics co-developer Dr Don Beck as part of his keynote address to the World Education Fellowship in Sun City, South Africa, that April. It has since become world-renowned as a first-class example of applying Spiral Dynamics diagnostically.

View 'Potential Spiral Strategies...' to address some of the issues raised in this schematic