| By: Committee for Children To Trust or Not To Trust As a teacher I hardly ever sent a child to the principal's office. It's not that I thought I was capable of handling every situation. I just always felt if I sent that child to the principal's office, I would never be able to get anywhere with that child again, and the child would always think I couldn't handle them. I also thought I had broken a trust, and without trust it's hard to have a relationship. I never wanted that, but what I did want was that child to learn and grow and become successful … always. I always wanted a relationship with my students.Read More
| By: Tonje Molyneux Welcome Wave of Change: Positive Discipline and SEL in Schools I bet you can easily conjure up an image of a school teacher rapping the knuckles of a naughty girl with a ruler. Or a principal paddling the bottom of a boisterous boy. For a long time, this was how students were disciplined in school. They were physically punished with rulers, straps, paddles, or hands. Or shamed by being made to stand in the corner, wear a dunce cap, or write lines on the board. Perhaps you think these harsh, punitive discipline practices are a relic of a past, something we now only see in old movies or on episodes of The Simpsons. But in 19 states it’s still legal to use corporal punishment in schools.1 And since the late 1980s, zero-tolerance policies have resulted in thousands of students being excluded from schools, their right to an education stripped away for infractions sometimes as minor as chewing gum. Read More
| By: Committee for Children Just Schools: A Whole School Approach to Restorative Justice One of the most important concepts in Belinda Hopkins’s Just Schools is that any community—whether it’s a family, school, or criminal justice system—can change the way its members interact with one another so that they begin to deal with conflict in a socially inclusive manner. Hopkins believes that the same skills and values underpin all restorative practice. In her easy-to-use handbook, she lays out the history of and foundation for the use of restorative practice, and then moves on to provide guidance to schools that aim to become “listening” schools: that is, communities where empowerment, communication, and repair are key elements to all interpersonal relationships. The final section will be particularly helpful to educators who are weary of, as Hopkins herself calls it, the “flavour of the month” in school innovations. In this section she addresses, with impeccable practicality, implementation and sustainability. Read More
| By: Committee for Children Cultivating Student Success with Positive Discipline Despite the hardships of being an underfunded school with a majority of students living in poverty, John Wister Elementary shines a light on the good, bringing out the best in its community. The relatively small school (350-plus students) with a big heart is located in the historic Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia, PA. Its much-loved principal, Mrs. Donna Smith, has worked tirelessly for the past 12 years to create a positive place where her students—or “babies,” as she calls them—can learn. Her own three children are now grown, but she incorporates her parenting philosophy into her practice. “My grandmother always said, ‘You get more from honey than from vinegar,’ which I found to be true as a parent, then as a teacher, and now principal.” Read More
| By: Committee for Children Keeping Kids Safe The 2013 Youth Risk Behavior Survey revealed that 7.1% of U.S. youth 14–17 years old did not go to school on one or more of the previous 30 days because of safety concerns. Student safety is essential for fostering growth, relationships, and learning.Read More
| By: Committee for Children Second Step Bullying Prevention Unit: A Schoolwide Approach Learn about three components of the Bullying Prevention Unit a school needs to handle bullying effectively: policies and procedures, staff response training, and student lessons.Read More
| By: Committee for Children Promoting Mental Health Through SEL Youth mental health has been receiving increased attention in the past several years. Data suggests there are large numbers of children struggling with significant mental health difficulties that affect their success in school and life. So what is mental health? Why is it important to continually support children’s mental health? How does social-emotional learning (SEL) relate to mental health?Read More
| By: Committee for Children Communication is Key in Preventing Child Sexual Abuse http://www.first5la.org/index.php?r=site/article&id=3381Read More
| By: Committee for Children Points of Light Civic Accelerator Invests $50,000 Each in Two Startups in 5th Class http://www.pointsoflight.org/press-releases/points-light-civic-accelerator-invests-50000-each-two-startups-5th-classRead More