NCJ Number
134662
Date Published
1987
Length
8 pages
Annotation
In 1985, secondary schools principals in Whyalla and Port Augusta, Australia, expressed concern about a small group of seriously disruptive students, and the Haven was later established to cater to students who could not be controlled in the normal school environment.
Abstract
Since October 1986, about 14 students have been enrolled at the Haven. These students have most of the following characteristics: well-documented history of disruptiveness in school, recent history of violence in school, academic underachivement, poor school attendance, repeated lawbreaking (theft, breaking and entering, assault, shoplifting, and illegal motor vehicle use), and involvement with drugs and alcohol. They tend to come from multiproblem, single-parent families; families that overly use support systems; or families that resist intervention. The Haven has a large indoor recreation area and a work room, and equipment has been deliberately kept to a minimum. Considerable effort has been expended to make life at the Haven under-reactive, peaceful, and calm. Staff are firm, predictable, consistent, encouraging, fair, and courteous. There are clear expectations and clear rules, although rules are minimal. The main rule is that no smoking is allowed inside the building. The purpose of the Haven's curriculum is to help students learn the skills they need to manage in real life through activities, programs, and experiences. The curriculum is flexible and responsive to changing needs, but focuses on developing skills necessary for literacy and numeracy and for domestic, time, money, and stress management. Total cohesiveness among adult staff is essential, since students are quick to exploit any division and to play adults off against each other. The Haven's ideology, teaching goals, behavior modification methods, and beliefs are outlined.