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Contact: Bruce Conley
Associate Director of College Relations
Phone: (605) 274-5526
Fax: (605) 274-4903
www.augie.edu
February 14, 2006
SIOUX FALLS - A mother’s expression of gratitude was the ideal Christmas gift for her child's teacher.
Confronted with a child who had gotten off to a horrendous start in another classroom, the teacher turned to an innovative resource for help.
The Augustana Institute for Reclaiming Students (AIRS) has been operational since the 2004-2005 school year. Through collaboration with AIRS, the teacher was willing to try new ideas in dealing with a disruptive child. In time, the child came to love school and the mother couldn’t thank the teacher enough.
“There are no magic answers,” said Steve Van Bockern, professor of education at Augustana and director of the Institute. “It takes time, but in many cases there are answers. To determine how adults can be helpful, we must first learn what a child is experiencing. That requires patience, respect, kindness, and nonjudgmental support.”
Van Bockern’s longtime involvement with Reclaiming Youth International (RYI) was instrumental in designing Augustana’s program. RYI is dedicated to the development and dissemination of proactive policies, training, research, programs, and strategies to better serve children and youth who are in conflict in family, school, and community.
“The work I’ve done with Reclaiming Youth International was a catalyst for a concept of finding ways, through Augustana, for schools and communities to help kids,” Van Bockern said.
Supported by Dr. Bob Kiner, vice president for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College, and the generosity of a number of individuals, the concept moved off the drawing board in 2002 and became a functioning resource two years later.
Since then Van Bockern has worked directly with teachers in Sioux Falls and the surrounding area. He talks with troubled kids and presents workshops for teachers. He plans to develop at least one video/on-line course. The objective is to help schools become places that better meet the needs of all children with the intended goal to help children experience success in and out of school.
Last fall the Institute sponsored a free presentation of drug therapy as an increasingly accepted response to childhood disorders and challenges. The discussion was led by Dr. Bob Foltz, a clinical psychologist from Chicago. Part of the discussion centered around the value of medicating so many of our children who are experiencing challenges.
The Institute also collaborates with Volunteers of America as part of the 21st Century five-year grant. Nine Augustana students serve as after school mentors at three different sites. Required to keep a reflective journal, one student wrote:
“We are supposed to get three new students. One has straight F’s. I can’t believe that all of his teachers have let him slip through the cracks. This is new to me once again. I guess I always thought every student would excel at or enjoy at least one subject. But guess that I am very naïve. I really hope we can help him find mastery in school. Another new student, I heard, just got out of JDC (Juvenile Detention Center). She is failing most of her classes. Her arms are covered in tattoos. Seems too young.”
What is it that drives some children to be disruptive in school?
“At the core, it’s children not getting needs met,” says Van Bockern.
The Institute’s philosophy is grounded in the Circle of Courage (TM) model developed by Van Bockern and fellow Augustana professors Larry Brendtro (emeriti) and Martin Brokenleg (retired). That model suggests that when the needs of children are met -belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity – they generally do well.
“We use the Circle of Courage (TM) to identify what kids need,” said Van Bockern.
“Some children feel like they don’t belong. Some have achievement problems. Youth also need to feel like they have power to make decisions that affect their lives. Other children feel they have no purpose. While techniques like planned ignoring (pick your battles), or proximity control (get close to a child that needs redirection), there are no techniques that substitute for the power of connections, success, real responsibility and a life with purpose. At the heart of reclaiming and claiming our children is love made visible through our actions.”
The AIRS program has specific goals, including conducting research that leads to knowledge, skills, and attitudes that can best reclaim youth experiencing academic or behavioral problems in schools. And, to serve as a resource for families, schools, and the community as they work to diagnose challenges and then provide appropriate support for children. The Institute also challenges schools to become inviting and reclaiming places where all children learn and experience joy.
“Children who do well have at least one adult in their lives who cares for them,” said Van Bockern. “We think the adults in our schools can have a profound effect on helping young people navigate challenging circumstances, whatever those circumstances may be. Successful schools are important resources for our children.”