In 1969, psychologist Philip Zimbardo left two identical cars in two very different neighborhoods—one in the Bronx, one in Palo Alto.
Both looked abandoned. Within hours, one was destroyed. The other sat untouched—until Zimbardo himself broke a single window. Then, predictably, the destruction began there too.
It became known as the Broken Window Theory—the idea that when we let small signs of disorder go unchecked, bigger problems follow. It’s a study that’s often been used to justify zero-tolerance approaches: punish every behavior, enforce every rule, no exceptions.
But here’s where we push back.
Because while Zimbardo’s study reminds us not to ignore the “broken windows” in our schools—the disrespect, the apathy, the small cracks in culture—it also reminds us that punishment alone doesn’t repair anything.
This week on Schurtz and Ties, we talk about the real takeaway:
Everything needs to be addressed, but not everything needs a consequence.
We’ll explore how leaders and teachers can respond to “broken window behavior” without breaking people in the process—how to repair, not retaliate; how to build culture through accountability and care.
We also share practical systems and strategies that help:
What to do when small behaviors start to spread.
How to balance grace and structure.
How to create a culture where students and staff feel both safe and responsible.
Because the goal isn’t control.
It’s culture.
And culture grows best when we address the cracks—before they spread—without shattering the glass.
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Show Sponsors:Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with TeachBetter.com:
“The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom.”
We’d love to hear your thoughts or ideas for future episodes:
#DoGreatThings | #KeepKnocking
