Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Primary School teaches 'Stop and Think' discipline

Gurdon Primary School has implemented a new discipline program called "Stop and Think," which encourages students to take time to evaluate choices before taking action.

The discipline concept is part of a National Model Prevention Program, as designated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Center for Substance Abuse Prevention.

Principal Rita Roe said "Stop and Think" concentrates on how a student reacts.

"They take the time to think if what they are about to do is a good choice or a bad choice," she said. "It gets them in the habit of making the good choices because they see good things happening when they do."

It does not really stress consequences of bad choices as much as it does teach students how to react to what happens after a choice is made."

Roe said the program is new this year, although school counselor Melissa Franklin has taught similar principals for sometime.

"We are doing this in grades K-4. Good social skills between teachers and students are promoted."

She said "Stop and Think" also promotes conflict and resolution skills for students.

"We had 30 discipline referrals last year," Roe said. "I thought that was good, but our goal is to have zero."

The program has the following five steps: stop and think before doing; are you going to make a good choice or a bad choice? what are your choices or steps? just do it! and good job!

According to the Human Services literature, those practicing the skill steps, over time, repeat them silently and perform the skills more independently and automatically.