CUMBERLAND — Allegany County public school officials are taking steps to try to curb a surge in bad behavior over the last several years, particularly at elementary and middle schools.
A new character education/violence prevention program called PeaceBuilders boils down to a few simple rules for teachers and students alike.
Praise people.
Give up put-downs.
Right wrongs.
Help others.
“What are some things you can do in 30 seconds to help others?” asked Sheila Carter, a trainer for the California-based PeacePartners Inc. who visited Allegany County on Wednesday. “Open a door. Say hello. Smile. A smile is so simple to do, but sometimes that’s all a child needs.”
About 40 guidance counselors, teachers and administrators gathered at Allegany College of Maryland for a several-hour workshop to learn the principles of PeaceBuilders. The program, purchased with federal Safe and Drug-Free Schools Act funds, is to be implemented this spring at elementary and middle schools across the county, said Loralee Farrell, supervisor of Health and Family Life.
“Our suspensions for classroom disruption and disrespect have very gradually been climbing over the last several years,” said Farrell, adding that school districts are required by law to address such issues.
According to statistics from the Maryland State Department of Education, the number of Allegany County students being suspended for disrespect, insubordination and classroom disruptions has more than doubled in the last six years.
During the 2002-2003 school year, 353 students were suspended for those offenses; last year, the number was 716 students, an increase of 103 percent.
Statewide, the number of suspensions for those offenses decreased slightly, from 46,696 in 2002-2003 to 44,323 last year.
“At our school, (office) referrals are really up,” said Earlene Mason, guidance counselor at Washington Middle School.
“Kids are fighting a lot this year. I would like to see what this program can do to change that. And to get kids in eighth grade who have an ‘I-don’t-care’ attitude — which comes from put-downs and not wanting to help others — to see if that can change before we ship them off to high school.”
PeaceBuilders uses simple exercises to help students focus on the basics of good behavior. At Wednesday’s workshop, for example, Carter introduced Bluey, a 3-foot-tall person cut from poster board, then asked participants to hurl insults at him.
“We don’t like blue people here,” one counselor said, ripping off a piece of Bluey’s arm.
“You look like a Smurf,” said another, ripping off another piece. Before long, Bluey had one leg, no arms and part of a head.
Then each participant was asked to make a positive comment about Bluey and tape back his body part.
“Put-downs leave scars that may never heal,” said Carter, holding up the battered Bluey. “Think about when you were a child, did you receive a put-down that you remember to this day? Think about how words can hurt.”
At the middle-school level, students are asked to make a PeaceBuilders Pledge, which touches on the six major points of the program.
“We look for the good in others and praise them,” the pledge states. “We show respect when faced with disrespect. We seek wise people as advisers and friends. We speak up about hurts we have caused. We create a positive plan for making amends. We picture the good that can be and act to bring it about.”
The concepts aren’t new for teachers and counselors, said Paula Smith, fifth-grade teacher at Flintstone Elementary School. Most Allegany County schools have character education programs in place, including Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports.
PeaceBuilders will enhance what’s already being done to address behavioral issues, Smith said.
“This isn’t really reinventing the wheel,” said Smith. “It’s just really simple things that don’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that gives these kids a positive focus. ... It’s not an overnight turnaround, but it does make a difference.”
Contact Kristin Harty Barkley at kharty@times-news.com.
Education
Related Photos
-
John A.Bone/Times-News
Public school officials hope PeaceBuilders can improve behavior among youngsters
- Education
-
-
Area students named to Frostburg State University dean’s list
FROSTBURG — The following students from the area have been named to the dean’s list at Frostburg State University in recognition of outstanding academic achievement for the fall 2011 semester. To be eligible, a student must undertake a minimum of 12 credit hours and earn a cumulative semester grade-point average of at least 3.4 on a 4.0 scale.
-
Allegany College of Maryland names dean’s list students
CUMBERLAND — Three hundred and seventy students were named to the Allegany College of Maryland dean’s list for the fall 2011 semester, according to Fran Leibfreid, ACM interim vice president of instructional affairs.
To be eligible for the dean’s list, a student must earn a 3.8 or higher grade-point average on a 4.0 scale and be enrolled in five or more semester hours of course work. -
Afterschool programs cut in approved board budget
The budget approved Tuesday night by the Allegany County Board of Education doesn’t include money for locally funded afterschool programs.
-
Braddock Middle students earn honor roll status
Braddock Middle School recently announced that 203 students have been posted to the honor roll for the second nine-week marking period of the 2010-2011 school year.
-
Mineral residents, staff give tearful plea for special education
Tuesday night’s standing-room-only Mineral County Board of Education meeting was emotionally charged as several people took the floor to defend the special education positions that could potentially be on the chopping block. Both Tom Denne, director of psychological services, student assessment and student services, and Karen Wegener, assistant principal at Keyser Primary Middle School, entreated that the board remember the words of Margaret Meade.
-
Mineral Board will not renew Hackworth’s contract
After almost a 90-minute executive session Tuesday, the Mineral County Board of Education unanimously voted not to renew Superintendent Tilden “Skip” Hackworth’s four-year contract. His current contract will end on June 30, 2011.
-
Mediation certification training scheduled
Allegany Conflict Resolution Center is planning a 45-hour mediation certification training to become a trained mediator.
-
Students play key role in Mineral recycling efforts
Despite a lack of funding, officials and residents in Mineral County are making every effort to build strong recycling and litter control programs.
-
Wanted: Keyser High School supporters
Keyser High School and the community have come up with an alternative way to raise much-needed funds for their new athletic complex. Through the formation of their 2000 Club, Principal Charles Wimer says, they will raise the just over $2 million needed to pay off the lease-to-purchase arrangement and have additional funds left over.
-
Keyser Primary planning to start early next year
The overriding topic of the Mineral County School Board meeting Tuesday was the approval of the plans for the construction of Keyser Primary School. The beginning stages of planning are set to start in March or April, but Skip Hackworth, superintendent of the Mineral County schools , hopes to start as soon as next month.
- More Education Headlines
-
Area students named to Frostburg State University dean’s list
