mmg.com.au

Parents of St Joseph’s Primary School students recently attended an information session on the new ‘Positive Behavioural Interventions and Supports’ program introduced at the school.

Positive wellbeing education officer Katrina Johnson, who was hosting the meeting, said behavioural management was an issue which often interfered with schoolwork and the PBIS program looked at minimising this.

Ms Johnson showed a slide which showed one student sitting alone in a classroom where all of his classmates were expelled for bad behaviour and explained expulsion was not the appropriate way to deal with the situation.

‘‘If all misbehaved kids were expelled we’d have none left,’’ she said.

The learning environment was what needed change and the program rewarded children for doing something good, rather than focusing on when they are not well behaved, Ms Johnson said.

‘‘It’s about catching them being good rather than being bad,’’ she said.

Ms Johnson said while inappropriate behaviour was documented, desired behaviour would get the most attention with children receiving stars for their good work as well as positive reassurance from teachers.

The system is based on the success of a similar program which has been in place for the past 25 years in the US.

She explained good behaviours needed to be taught like a subject and 20 formal lessons would be taught throughout the school year.

Teacher Matt Knight said he would be teaching the students what positive behaviours was about.