Our House Education Committee visited the Thomas Jefferson Elementary School
in Boise about a month ago. They have an established Discipline Program
patterned somewhat after a program adopted by the Blaine Co. schools. TJ
School has 470 students. The majority come from single parent families and
are in the low income-mid income range. There are many keylatch kids.
Discipline has been a major problem in the school until the establishment of
the new program.
The school' program has been in effect for about 18 months. The principal
said that discipline problems were very disruptive and students sent to the
detention room.
The school has developed the following simple rules:
1. Each teacher has the right to teach in an undisturbed environment
2. Each student has the right to safety in the school
3. Each student needs to respect the rights of others
There are actually four rules and I've forgotten the other. These rules are
posted on 77 signs throughout the school. Each one of the students can
immediately tell you what the rules are and what they mean.
If a student breaks one of the rules they are sent to the Planning Room and
not the Detention Rule. TJ school was fortunate to obtain the services of
a full time facilitator to coordinate the program. We met with parents,
teachers, students, and administration to explain the program.
When a student breakes one of the rules the facilitator sits down with the
student and they go through a process of developing an improvement plan
(this is not the exact title). The student identified which rule they broke
and the reasons why they did it, the effect on the person )s) they
disturbed, etc. The student then develops a corrective action plan. The
plan is
signed off on by the student, parent (s), teacher, principal, and facilitator.
The plan's progress is monitored over time.
The bottom line is that only two students were expelled last year compared to
almost 30 the previous year. There has been an 80-90 percent decrease in
discipline problems. Teachers report they can now teach much more effectively.
Test scores in the school have have dramatically improved this year compared
to the year before--mainly attributed to the great improvement in the discipline
situation. There are, of course, still some frequent flyers.
The program costs are primarily the facilitator--but the payoff is excellent.
The House Committee suggest the school develop some baseline data and they
we can look at it over a 3 year basis. If we have solid data to work on they
the legislature is in a much better position to recommend and finance
policy decisions.
Blaine Co. has this system in all grades. One can't but think that with
such an approach this would have a dramatic impact on a possible decrease in
juvenile crime, etc. and develop with family and community support excellent
values for the future.
If you want further information on this I'd be glad to get it for you.
Rep. Tom Trail/Dist. 5
Dr. Tom Trail
International Trails
2039 Mt. View Rd.
Moscow, Id. 83843
Tel: (208) 882-6077
Fax: (208) 882-0896
e mail ttrail@moscow.com