Teachers hear discipline plan
City teachers hear discipline plan

By Brian Kimball
Published: June 12, 2008

Disrespectful, stubborn, disruptive, troublemakers – that's how some teachers describe students with behavior problems whom they discipline on a regular basis.

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More than 150 Oklahoma City Public Schools teachers were at Douglass High School on Wednesday to learn from a mental health expert about how to better manage students with difficult behaviors.

"The goal is to have educators ... have different strategies to accommodate behaviorally challenging kids and to increase the energy to do it because it wears you out,” said James L. McDougal, assistant professor of psychology at the State University of New York at Oswego.

He said teachers must provide positive learning and teaching environments, positive models and regular positive reinforcement.

‘State it positively'
Rather than telling students what not to do, teachers should tell them what they should do, McDougal said.

For example, don't post a rule that reads, "No talking out of turn.” Instead have the sign read "Remain quiet unless called upon,” he said.

"Behavior management is always evolving,” said Ginger Sherman, a Hawthorne Elementary special education teacher. "Ten years ago it was, ‘If you don't do this you get your name on the board.' It was more negative. Now it's like, ‘State it positively,' and it works. It does work.”

McDougal gave 53 seminars across the nation last year and said he received a lot of positive feedback.

"So many times we fall into the pitfalls of thinking of behavior and negative consequences,” said Arden Kaiser, a seventh grade math teacher at Jefferson Middle School. "(McDougal) is emphasizing consequences for positive behavior, which by all means is the way to do it. That's the way real life is.”


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It's PC because now no one wants to inflict negitive emotions on children. No one wants to upset one another. Speak only 'soft talk', that is where everything you say is positive. Personally a good whooping will 90% cure any misbehaving in my book.
Russell, oklahoma city - Jun 12, 2008 4:38 PM
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Explain to me again how being positive with children is politically correct? Being consistent and positive with children brings out the best possible outcomes. I use it when I discipline my son and he is a model student and citizen.
KEVIN, EDMOND - Jun 12, 2008 3:29 PM
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A paddling admistered by a coach did wonders for the troublemakers back in the day.
Lee, Oklahoma City - Jun 12, 2008 4:00 PM
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A paddling admistered by a coach did wonders for the troublemakers back in the day.
Lee, Oklahoma City - Jun 12, 2008 4:00 PM
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Political Correctness at it's best.
Russell, oklahoma city - Jun 12, 2008 10:35 AM
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