Wednesday, February 6, 2002
|
Wednesday, February 6, 2002 |
|
Braelinn to become first certified positive label school in U.S.
Starting immediately, only positive labels are allowed at Braelinn Elementary School. In an effort to help students understand the impact that words can have on others, the school has entered into a program to become the first certified positive label only school in the United States. The certification program is offered through the Kamaron Institute, which was created by Peachtree City resident Margaret Ross to help schools, businesses, organizations and homes become safe havens where only positive labels or words are used. Becoming certified is a four-week process where each classroom must have a minimum of two activities per week focusing on the effects of labeling. One activity that everyone must participate in is reading Ross' book, "Casey and the Amazing, Giant, Green Shirt." The story centers around a young boy named Casey who finds his grandfather's old Army shirt and notices that a badge is missing from it. He asks his mother to make him a badge to fill the space and she gives him the task of deciding what the badge should say. Casey takes a whole week, choosing a different word each day: special, brave, smart, nice, fast, patriotic and loved. Through his journey to find the perfect word for his badge, he learns about the joy of positive words and the pain of unkind ones. School counselor Billie Anderson became interested in bringing the KC3 certified program to Braelinn after reading about it and the book in a local Atlanta newspaper. She immediately contacted Ross and the two of them began working on the certification process in early January. "I think one of our biggest problems at Braelinn is that kids are quick to use words that can hurt other's feelings, but they don't realize how long the effects of negative words will last," said Anderson. "If we can get them to see the long-term effects through this program, then hopefully it will change their behavior." For four weeks, everyone at the school students, teachers, staff and administrators has made a promise to use only positive labels for each other and themselves. Research has shown that it takes a minimum of 21 days of repeated activity to form a habit, so Anderson hopes that after the four-week period is up, everyone at the school will be in the habit of using positive labels. Although individual classrooms are doing their own positive label projects, everyone at the school is involved in a school-wide activity where each person must think of one word that represents them. That word will be put on a paper shirt and hung on a clothesline that will span the halls of the school. In all, about 850 shirts with positive labels will hang on the clothesline. Although Braelinn is just getting started with the certification process, Anderson says she can already see some positive changes in the students. Ben Wiley, a third grader, says it best. "I say 'put downs' are one of the worst things you could do to somebody. If we stopped doing 'put downs' we could have better schools and communities. No 'put downs' is one big rule in our school and Mrs. Anderson has helped us understand that." Feb. 11, Braelinn will have completed its certification process and will become the first KC3-certified positive label school. To mark the occasion, Ross will come to the school to officially award a special plaque as well as conduct a one-hour seminar for parents on how to have a positive label home. Throughout the year, Anderson said, she hopes teachers will continue to conduct individual classroom activities to foster the positive label concept. "This is a simple idea that has the potential of being a very effective one. If students can learn to use positive labels for each other and themselves, their future will be a kinder one," Anderson adds. The KC3 certification is being tied to the school's Children at Risk in Education and Second Step programs. Both programs help to create a positive and safe school environment for all students. Braelinn will receive its positive label certification just as National Random Acts of Kindness Week commences Feb. 11-17.
|
||