MMS PRINCIPAL HINTS AT "POSITIVE REINFORCERS" TO COUNTER NEGATIVE RULES

MMS Principal Jerrill Adams

Maplewood Middle School principal Jerrill Adams hinted that he would counter the controversial strict rules instituted this week that ban sandals, hats and bookbags in the building with what he termed "positive reinforcers" to reward acts of kindness.

In a note to parents, he wrote:

Dear MMS Families, 

We are several weeks into the weekly messages that your children hear in on Fridays and that get emailed home to you for additional discussion with your child. We’d like to say that these messages are part of a bigger initiative at MMS. The PBIS, which stands for Positive Behavioral Intervention System, became a committee of dedicated teachers, administrators, and community members. There are several spokes to the PBIS wheel: one spoke is the weekly positive messages about behavior and how we will make our school a kinder and more inclusive place. Another spoke is the Mentoring Program, designed to pair students with a faculty or staff mentor. Research has shown that having one identified individual to guide a child during the school day leads to better decision-making and academic performance. Another aspect of PBIS at MMS is the new Code of Conduct implemented just this week. Our goal is for students to do the right things and to improve our climate by respecting self and others. The PBIS group is committed to finding positive reinforcers that can be delivered when students are “caught doing something good”. They will be developmentally appropriate for our population. The PBIS plan is a work in progress. We will assess and review progress as time moves ahead. Sincerely, Jerrill M. Adams Principal