Reflection
 To be alienated is to lack a sense of
belonging, to feel cut off from family,
friends, school, or work: the four
worlds of childhood.
-Urie Bronfenbrenner (1986)
Reclaiming Youth at Risk:
Keynote Address
Miriam Taylor
Assistant Superintendent for Learning Support
Services
Ellen Stoltz, Ph.D
Senior Director of Special Education Services
Purpose/Process/Pay-off
 Teaching students with challenging
behaviors instead of criminalizing
disability
 Building background
 Reclaiming youth at-risk:
The Four A’s
The Four A’s of Implementing a
Reclaiming Environment
Strive for:
 Attachment
 Achievement
 Autonomy
 Altruism
To mitigate:
 Gang loyalty
 Academic Failure
 Passive, Aggression
 Selfishness
Let’s Look at the Data…
 Suspensions by schools
 Trend Data, number of students with
ED and ADHD
 Monies allocated for outplacements
for students with challenging behavior
Students with Emotional Disabilities Suspended More than 10 Days:
Zone 1 Schools
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
l
K
J
I
H
G
F
E
D
C
B
A
0
Students with Emotional Disabilities Suspended More than 10 Days:
Zone 2 Schools
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
Students with Emotional Disabilities Suspended More than 10 Days:
Zone 3 Schools
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
K
I
G
E
C
A
0
Students with Emotional Disabilities Suspended More than 10 Days:
Zone 4 Schools
30
25
20
15
10
5
L
K
J
I
H
G
F
E
D
C
B
A
0
Top Ten Reasons for More
Restrictive Settings….
 We don’t have that
here/We can’t do
that here
 We are tired of
dealing with him
 This will not fit in
my schedule
 He doesn’t care
 He is bi-polar
 Day One, I knew he
didn’t belong here
 He has given up
 Somewhere else will
make a difference
 I can’t sacrifice the
safety of other
students
 I need to set an
example for others
Outplacement Cost for Students with Emotional
and Attentional Disabilities
ED
ADHD
Total
As of May
As of October
2010
2009
10,826,023
8,931,459
839,859
550,226
$11,665,882
$9,481,685
Effect of Out-Placements…
 Achievement data (CMT/CAPT) for
students with ED or ADHD
 Graduation Rate
 Drop-Out Rate
 Return to District
 Judicial Involvement
Our Hope for the Future
A Reading from
Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Reclaiming Youth at Risk
Definition…
 Creates change that meets the needs
of both the young person and the
society
 Restores value to something or
someone that has been devalued
The Four A’s of Implementing a
Reclaiming Environment
Strive for:
 Attachment
 Achievement
 Autonomy
 Altruism
To mitigate:
 Gang loyalty
 Academic Failure
 Passive, Aggression
 Selfishness
Reclaiming Environment
vs.
Current Environment
 Belonging in a
supportive
community
 Meeting one’s
needs for mastery
 Lost in a
depersonalized
bureaucracy
 Inflexible systems
for the
convenience of
adults
Reclaiming vs. Current
 Involving youth in
determining their
future
 Expecting youth to
be caregivers
 Controlling
behavior to meet
adult needs
 Creating
overdependence on
the care of adults
An Historical Perspective
The past 200 years, people who were
 emotionally ill
 intellectually different
 physically handicapped
 troubled at home
…were institutionalized to maintain the façade
that society was working smoothly.
Today…
 Public Schools are charged to educate
ALL students to prepare for the future
Across the United States…
Greater stake in achieving school
success because:
 World power
 Global economic indicators
 Knowledge-based society
 Staggering cost of supporting dropouts, illiteracy, unemployable, and
mentally ill citizens
Four Ecological Hazards to Children




Destructive Relationships
Climates of Futility
Learned Irresponsibility
Loss of Purpose
How many of these fit into the Four
Hazards?
 We don’t have that
here/We can’t do
that here
 We are tired of
dealing with him
 This will not fit in
my schedule
 He doesn’t care
 He is bi-polar
 Day One, I knew he
didn’t belong here
 He belongs in Adult Ed
 Somewhere else will
make a difference
 I can’t sacrifice the
safety of other
students
 I need to set an
example for others
Profile in Discouragement
Richard’s Story
Four Ways to Mend the Four
Hazards
 Destructive Relationships:
Attachment (Belonging)
 Climates of Futility: Achievement
(Mastery)
 Learned Irresponsibility: Autonomy
(Independence)
 Loss of Purpose: Altruism
(Generosity)
Mending the Broken Circle
Hazard One: Destructive Relationships
Attachment
 Identifies with group
 Loving
 Friendly
 Intimate
 Gregarious
 Cooperative
 Trusting
Does Not Belong
 Gang loyalty
 Guarded
 Rejected
 Lonely, promiscuous
 Aloof
 Isolated
 Distrustful,dependent
Mending the Broken Circle
Hazard Two: Futility
Achievement
 Strengths
 Successful
 Creative
 Problem-solver
 Motivated
 Persistent
 Competent
Failure
 Nonachiever
 Failure-oriented
 Avoids risks
 Fears challenge
 Unmotivated
 Gives up easily
 Inadequate
Mending the Broken Circle
Hazard Three: Learned Irresponsiblity
Autonomy
 Self-sufficient
 Confident
 Assertive
 Responsible
 Inner Control
 Self-Discipline
 Leadership
Dependency
 Dictatorial, passive
 Lacks esteem
 Inferiority
 Power struggles
 Manipulative
 Rebellious
 Defiant, easily led
Mending the Broken Circle
Hazard Four: Loss of Purpose
Altruism
 Generous
 Caring
 Sharing
 Loyal
 Empathetic
 Pro-social
 Supportive
Self-centered
 Selfish
 Affectionless
 Narcissistic, martyr
 Co-Dependent
 Hardened, aloof
 Antisocial
 Exploits, bullies
The Four A’s of Implementing a
Reclaiming Environment
Strive for:
 Attachment
 Achievement
 Autonomy
 Altruism
To mitigate:
 Gang loyalty
 Academic Failure
 Passive, Aggression
 Selfishness
The Four A’s of Implementing a Reclaiming
Environment:
Strive for:
 Social Reinforcement
 Encouragement and
Attention
 Modeling and
Corrective Teaching
 Turning Crises into
Opportunity
Attachment
From someone who is:
 Beloved and admired
 Trusted and safe
 Significant in the
Four Worlds of
Childhood
 Loving the unlovable,
Respectful and
respected
The Four A’s of Implementing a Reclaiming
Environment:
Strive for:
 Identifying patterns
 Non-threatening
environments
 Experiential activities
 Social engagement
Achievement
By teaching:
 Concepts, not facts
 Self-directed
WebQuests
 How to mentor a
younger student
 Accountable
Cooperative Learning
The Four A’s of Implementing a Reclaiming
Environment:
Strive for Discipline
 Prevent problems
 Natural consequences
discussed with youth
 Respect for social
responsibility taught;
demand greatness
not obedience
 Control by inner
values expected;
mobilize the power of
peers
Autonomy
Replace Punishment
 Reactive after
problem occurs
 Adult-imposed predetermined
consequence
 Obedience to
authority taught
 Control by external
rule enforcement
The Four A’s of Implementing a Reclaiming
Environment:
Strive for
 Doing for others;
hooked on helping
 Empathy for the
condition of less
fortunate
 Courage and
responsibility
 Attachment to people
Altruism
To replace
 Loneliness and
alienation
 Self-centeredness
 Poor self-esteem
 Focus on acquiring
material objects
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO CHANGE ONE OF
THE FOUR WORLDS FOR ONE STUDENT?
 Effect of Critical Mass
 Effect of Distributed Leadership
 Effect of Starfish Thinking
Closing Link
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a
EFKfXiCbLw&feature=related