Hartford students are on report — for behaving well
By Brandy Nance (Contact)
Originally published 01:34 p.m., January 21, 2008
Updated 01:34 p.m., January 21, 2008
HARTFORD — The students at Hartford High and Neosho Rapids Junior High are being honored for being written up for their behavior — written up for doing good things, that is.
When students do things above and beyond they are written up for their good behavior, said Curtis Simons, principal. Students who are written up have their names put into a box for a drawing. At the end of each semester, students get an all-school assembly, a break from classes and an opportunity to win some nice prizes. Last semester, Simons said, students were written up for doing well 176 times. He said he got the idea from Salina Central High School.
“It’s a reinforcement for good behavior,” Simons said.
Simons said it is his job to enforce the district rules, and this program helps him do his job.
“I have to provide a safe environment for everybody,” he said.
Every two weeks, a drawing takes place. Five names are drawn and students whose names are pulled out of the box get a slice of pizza.
At the end of last semester the first assembly was held to recognize students who were written up for good behavior, and Simons said the school has noticed a difference in students’ behavior.
“We’ve had less fights in the fall than we did last year,” Simons said. “It’s a goal. They have to make good choices. They have to follow the rules.”
One student at the assembly last month won a color television set, Simons said. The guest speaker was Emporia State University basketball player Michelle Stueve. Stueve spoke to the students and also participated in a free-throw contest with kids and teachers. The Booster Club helps to finance the prizes, Simons said.
The next assembly for the school is in May; however, it is not guaranteed. As part of the program, the school must have fewer than 10 in-school and out-of-school suspensions for that semester. If the number exceeds 10, the assembly is canceled.
Comments
We allow registered users to post comments on this Web site. To learn more about our posting policies please read our User Poster Agreement Policy.
Posted by create (anonymous) on January 21, 2008 at 3:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow, what a great idea! Peer pressure to behave sure beats bullying and fighting. I plan to send a few bucks to Hartford's Booster Club for picking up the tab for the prizes. Good job, moms and dads.
Posted by slipandslide (anonymous) on January 21, 2008 at 6:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
this is a good idea. i remember someone using an analogy to a soggy potatoe chip, if a kid wants a potatoe chip bad enough, he ll take it wheather or not its a crisp or soggy one. if a kid wants attention bad enough, he will seek it even if its negative attention, so for some, punishment itself is a reward for someone who wants attention. i know this isnt the word for word way i heard it, but it s been 15 years since i heard it and im doing my best to have it make sense. giving rewards for good behavior makes more sense than spending alot of time with disipline issues, some of which are kids who only want attention - good or bad.
Posted by olddog (anonymous) on January 23, 2008 at 5:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sounds like Team Work!!!! Keep up the good work!!!!!
Post a comment
We allow registered users to post comments on this Web site. Our goal with this feature is to encourage thoughtful discussions about the news stories. Using the comment feature to make random attacks on people is not acceptable. Emporiagazette.com neither endorses nor guarantees the accuracy of any user contribution. Responsibility for what is posted or contributed to this site is the sole responsibility of each user. To learn more about our posting policies please read our User Poster Agreement Policy.
(Requires free registration.)