Student discipline has and continues to be a challenge for school administrators, teachers and school staff. A new approach to school discipline, initiated by a school principal, shows positive outcomes. An 85% drop in student suspensions in his school has resulted from this newly implemented method of discipline. This approach was in response to information he obtained regarding how “Toxic Stress in Children Affects Their Behavior.”
The article provides information from studies that have shown that “Severe and chronic trauma (such as living with an alcoholic parent, or watching in terror as your mom gets beat up) causes toxic stress in kids. Toxic stress damages kid’s brains. When trauma launches kids into flight, fight or fright mode, they cannot learn. It is physiologically impossible.” The following links provide an article and video discussing the physiological effects of Toxic Stress in Children and how one school administrator and others changed their approach to school discipline resulting in successful outcomes.
Read more about Principal Jim Sporleder:
http://acestoohigh.com/2012/04/23/lincoln-high-school-in-walla-walla-wa-tries-new-approach-to-school-discipline-expulsions-drop-85/
