A Ministry of Education initiative aimed at fostering positive behaviour in schools is gaining more than a few pass marks, writes Shane Gilchrist.
Last year, the New Zealand Council for Education Research (NZCER) published its latest national secondary schools survey. It found that in 2015 student behaviour was much less of an issue for schools than it had been in 2012 (when the last survey was done).
In 2015, 15% of principals and 27% of teachers reported student behaviour as a major concern, compared to 26% and 44% in 2012, and 33% and 37% in 2009, when the Ministry of Education introduced a programme known as Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L) in response to a national summit that year.
Based on a framework developed at the University of Oregon in the 1990s, PB4L takes the approach that learning and achievement increase when: a school environment is positive and supportive; expectations are consistent and clear; pupils are taught expected behaviour; pupils are consistently acknowledged for expected behaviour; pupils are responded to equitably and fairly.
Katrina Casey, Ministry of Education Deputy Secretary Sector Enablement and Support, says PB4L is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Rather, it can be tailored to suit the cultural values and particular strengths and needs of a school community.
"Positive Behaviour for Learning is built on the simple principle that positive behaviour can be learnt and that environments can be changed to support effective teaching and learning for every child and student."
School staff are offered a package of training and support, including cluster meetings with local schools.
According to a NZCER report on PB4L, released last year, stand-downs, suspensions, exclusions and expulsions declined among 408 schools that started using the programme between 2010 and 2013. There were also decreases in disruptions in class and a rise in classroom engagement. As of this month, 722 New Zealand schools, including primary, intermediate and secondary but excluding private schools, are using PB4L. Of these, 60 are in Otago-Southland.
