Reflection o To be alienated is to lack

Reflection o To be alienated is to lack a sense of belonging, to feel cut off from family, friends, school, or work: the four worlds of childhood. -Urie Bronfenbrenner (1986)

Reclaiming Youth at Risk: Keynote Address Miriam Taylor Assistant Superintendent for Learning Support Services Ellen Stoltz, Ph. D Senior Director of Special Education Services

Purpose/Process/Pay-off o Teaching students with challenging behaviors instead of criminalizing disability o Building background o Reclaiming youth at-risk: The Four A’s

The Four A’s of Implementing a Reclaiming Environment Strive for: o o Attachment Achievement Autonomy Altruism To mitigate: o o Gang loyalty Academic Failure Passive, Aggression Selfishness

Let’s Look at the Data… o Suspensions by schools o Trend Data, number of students with ED and ADHD o Monies allocated for outplacements for students with challenging behavior

Students with Emotional Disabilities Suspended More than 10 Days: Zone 1 Schools

Students with Emotional Disabilities Suspended More than 10 Days: Zone 2 Schools

Students with Emotional Disabilities Suspended More than 10 Days: Zone 3 Schools

Students with Emotional Disabilities Suspended More than 10 Days: Zone 4 Schools

Top Ten Reasons for More Restrictive Settings…. o We don’t have that here/We can’t do that here o We are tired of dealing with him o This will not fit in my schedule o He doesn’t care o He is bi-polar o Day One, I knew he didn’t belong here o He has given up o Somewhere else will make a difference o I can’t sacrifice the safety of other students o I need to set an example for others

Outplacement Cost for Students with Emotional and Attentional Disabilities ED ADHD Total As of May As of October 2010 2009 10, 826, 023 8, 931, 459 839, 859 550, 226 $11, 665, 882 $9, 481, 685

Effect of Out-Placements… o Achievement data (CMT/CAPT) for students with ED or ADHD o Graduation Rate o Drop-Out Rate o Return to District o Judicial Involvement

Our Hope for the Future A Reading from Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Reclaiming Youth at Risk Definition… o Creates change that meets the needs of both the young person and the society o Restores value to something or someone that has been devalued

The Four A’s of Implementing a Reclaiming Environment Strive for: o o Attachment Achievement Autonomy Altruism To mitigate: o o Gang loyalty Academic Failure Passive, Aggression Selfishness

Reclaiming Environment vs. Current Environment o Belonging in a supportive community o Meeting one’s needs for mastery o Lost in a depersonalized bureaucracy o Inflexible systems for the convenience of adults

Reclaiming vs. Current o Involving youth in determining their future o Expecting youth to be caregivers o Controlling behavior to meet adult needs o Creating overdependence on the care of adults

An Historical Perspective The past 200 years, people who were o emotionally ill o intellectually different o physically handicapped o troubled at home …were institutionalized to maintain the façade that society was working smoothly.

Today… o Public Schools are charged to educate ALL students to prepare for the future

Across the United States… Greater stake in achieving school success because: o World power o Global economic indicators o Knowledge-based society o Staggering cost of supporting dropouts, illiteracy, unemployable, and mentally ill citizens

Four Ecological Hazards to Children o o Destructive Relationships Climates of Futility Learned Irresponsibility Loss of Purpose

How many of these fit into the Four Hazards? o We don’t have that here/We can’t do that here o We are tired of dealing with him o This will not fit in my schedule o He doesn’t care o He is bi-polar o Day One, I knew he didn’t belong here o He belongs in Adult Ed o Somewhere else will make a difference o I can’t sacrifice the safety of other students o I need to set an example for others

Profile in Discouragement Richard’s Story

Four Ways to Mend the Four Hazards o Destructive Relationships: Attachment (Belonging) o Climates of Futility: Achievement (Mastery) o Learned Irresponsibility: Autonomy (Independence) o Loss of Purpose: Altruism (Generosity)

Mending the Broken Circle Hazard One: Destructive Relationships Attachment o o o o Identifies with group Loving Friendly Intimate Gregarious Cooperative Trusting Does Not Belong o o o o Gang loyalty Guarded Rejected Lonely, promiscuous Aloof Isolated Distrustful, dependent

Mending the Broken Circle Hazard Two: Futility Achievement o o o o Strengths Successful Creative Problem-solver Motivated Persistent Competent Failure o o o o Nonachiever Failure-oriented Avoids risks Fears challenge Unmotivated Gives up easily Inadequate

Mending the Broken Circle Hazard Three: Learned Irresponsiblity Autonomy o o o o Self-sufficient Confident Assertive Responsible Inner Control Self-Discipline Leadership Dependency o o o o Dictatorial, passive Lacks esteem Inferiority Power struggles Manipulative Rebellious Defiant, easily led

Mending the Broken Circle Hazard Four: Loss of Purpose Altruism o o o o Generous Caring Sharing Loyal Empathetic Pro-social Supportive Self-centered o o o o Selfish Affectionless Narcissistic, martyr Co-Dependent Hardened, aloof Antisocial Exploits, bullies

The Four A’s of Implementing a Reclaiming Environment Strive for: o o Attachment Achievement Autonomy Altruism To mitigate: o o Gang loyalty Academic Failure Passive, Aggression Selfishness

The Four A’s of Implementing a Reclaiming Environment: Attachment Strive for: From someone who is: o Social Reinforcement o Encouragement and Attention o Modeling and Corrective Teaching o Turning Crises into Opportunity o Beloved and admired o Trusted and safe o Significant in the Four Worlds of Childhood o Loving the unlovable, Respectful and respected

The Four A’s of Implementing a Reclaiming Environment: Achievement Strive for: By teaching: o Identifying patterns o Non-threatening environments o Experiential activities o Social engagement o Concepts, not facts o Self-directed Web. Quests o How to mentor a younger student o Accountable Cooperative Learning

The Four A’s of Implementing a Reclaiming Environment: Autonomy Strive for Discipline Replace Punishment o Prevent problems o Natural consequences discussed with youth o Respect for social responsibility taught; demand greatness not obedience o Control by inner values expected; mobilize the power of peers o Reactive after problem occurs o Adult-imposed predetermined consequence o Obedience to authority taught o Control by external rule enforcement

The Four A’s of Implementing a Reclaiming Environment: Altruism Strive for To replace o Doing for others; hooked on helping o Empathy for the condition of less fortunate o Courage and responsibility o Attachment to people o Loneliness and alienation o Self-centeredness o Poor self-esteem o Focus on acquiring material objects

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO CHANGE ONE OF THE FOUR WORLDS FOR ONE STUDENT? o Effect of Critical Mass o Effect of Distributed Leadership o Effect of Starfish Thinking

Closing Link o http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=a EFKf. Xi. Cb. Lw&feature=related