Tuesday, June 01, 1999
Students learn to be polite
BY CHRISTINE WOLFF
The Cincinnati Enquirer
BLUE ASH — Youngsters at E.H. Greene Intermediate School know what to do when they see a teacher carrying something and approaching a closed door.
Hold the door open.
A friend's mother introduces herself and extends her hand?
Shake the hand, smile, and say your name.
A teacher gives instructions?
Listen carefully, say “OK,” and do the task.
Such polite behavior is becoming standard for Greene's 950 fifth- and sixth-graders, who form the laboratory for a program that teaches social skills and good behavior.
Called “Better All Together — Discipline with Dignity and Respect,” the 4-year-old program recently won a 1999 Ohio's BEST Practices Award. The BEST award — Building Excellent Schools for Today and the 21st Century, from the private Ohio Education Improvement Consortium — recognizes innovative education programs. Greene is among eight Cincinnati-area schools given BEST awards this year.
Principal Philip Hackett created Greene's program from information culled from seminars and discussions with educators. The goal: To have students develop a stronger interest in learning, maintain a higher level of self-esteem and develop friendships as they learn to get along with adults and other children.
“Fours years ago, I was very concerned about kids' behavior,” Mr. Hackett said. “I knew it could be better. We have to teach kids manners just like we teach them science.
“Teachers always had the skills. We just brought it more to the forefront and made it important,” he said.
The program gives students steps to follow for a variety of situations, such as how to introduce yourself, how to apologize, how to engage in a conversation, and how to cool down when upset.
For example, to accept a compliment, a student should look at the person, smile, say “thank you” in a pleasant voice, and not disagree with the compliment.
The program also stresses discipline — correcting to learn something — over punishment — a penalty without a lesson — Mr. Hackett said. Students are taught, for example, how to prepare an apology and how to practice saying it.
The lessons are ones that even a well-behaved child might not pick up at home — lessons crucial to success in a group situation like a classroom or workplace, Greene educators say.
“We start in the fall, building a classroom community,” said Amye White, a sixth-grade teacher at Greene. “We practice greeting each other. They learn that it's not just saying, "hey,' but you shake hands, look me in the eye, and say, "Good morning, Ms. White.'”
Greene students who demonstrate the new skills and are noticed by teachers or staff can win Success Awards, certificates handed out each Friday after the child's name is announced over the school's TV system.
Students like the public kudos.
“It makes you kind of set a goal to get more,” said Olga Milaychev, 11, of Symmes Township.
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