NCJ Number
61357
Date Published
1978
Length
35 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT SUMMARIZES THREE MAJOR PROGRAMS REPRESENTING DUTCH EFFORTS TO PREVENT DELINQUENCY THROUGH EDUCATION. THEY ARE BASED ON THE THEORY OF CULTURE CONFLICT BETWEEN DEPRIVED HOME ENVIRONMENTS AND STRUCTURED SCHOOL VALUES.
Abstract
THE MIDDLE-CLASS VALUES AND EXPECTATIONS OF TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS ALIENATE CHILDREN FROM LOWER SOCIOECONOMIC STRATA, ENCOURAGING DELINQUENCY. TO COUNTERACT THIS TREND, THREE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN HOLLAND: SPECIAL YOUTH-CARE, COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, AND EDUCATION STIMULATION PROGRAMS. THE FIRST CONSISTS OF 21 BOARDING SCHOOLS ADMITTING CHILDREN AGED 8 TO 18 WITH BEHAVIOR AND LEARNING PROBLEMS. THESE SCHOOLS RECEIVE CHILDREN REFERRED BY SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, AND CONSENT OF THE CHILD AND HIS FAMILY IS REQUIRED FOR ADMISSION. THE BASIC FUNCTION OF SPECIAL YOUTH-CARE IS TO PROMOTE A PEDAGOGICAL CLIMATE WHERE THE DEVIANT CHILDREN ARE ACCEPTED FOR WHAT THEY ARE AND CAN PROGRESS IN ACADEMIC AND OTHER SKILLS UNTIL THEY CAN BE REINTEGRATED INTO THE REGULAR SCHOOL SYSTEM OR UNDERTAKE LIFE ON THEIR OWN. SECOND, THE COMPENSATION PROGRAMS ARE OFTEN JOINT EFFORTS BETWEEN THE SCHOOLS AND LOCAL UNIVERSITIES AND ARE DESIGNED TO INCREASE THE CHANCES OF CULTURALLY DEPRIVED CHILDREN TO SUCCEED ACADEMICALLY BY ASSISTING THEIR MENTAL AND LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL GROWTH, AND INSTRUMENTAL SKILLS. THE SCHOOLS COLLABORATE WITH NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS AND SEEK PARENTAL SUPPORT FOR ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES GEARED TO KINDERGARTEN AND LOWER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN. THIRD, THE GOVERNMENT EDUCATION STIMULATION POLICY IS IMPLEMENTED JOINTLY BY THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCES AND THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE, RECREATION, AND SOCIAL WORK. FIVE SPECIALLY SELECTED GEOGRAPHIC NEEDY AREAS, AS WELL AS NUMEROUS INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS IN UNDERPRIVILEGED CITY NEIGHBORHOODS RECEIVE GOVERNMENT SUPPORT IN THE FORM OF ADDITIONAL TEACHING AND COUNSELING STAFF, TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAMS, AND SPECIAL TEACHING AIDS AND MATERIALS. THE SCHOOLS ARE UNDER OBLIGATION TO EXPAND THEIR ACTIVITIES THROUGH THESE SERVICES, SUPPLY INDIVIDUAL HELP TO STUDENTS, AND ADOPT INNOVATIVE EDUCATIONAL TECHNIQUES. EFFECTIVENESS EVALUATION FOR ALL THESE PROGRAMS NEEDS TO BE DEVELOPED AND EFFORTS INCREASED TO INTEGRATE SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES. TABULAR DATA AND LITERATURE REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (MRK)