NCJ Number
58796
Date Published
1978
Length
51 pages
Annotation
AN ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL FOR DELINQUENT AND DISTURBED ADOLESCENTS IN BOSTON, MASS., IS DESCRIBED, WITH DETAILED ATTENTION TO A PROGRAM THAT INVOLVED TROUBLED YOUTHS IN CHILDCARE WORK.
Abstract
UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE HARVARD GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION, THE SCHOOL OPERATES OUT OF A COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER, SERVING 50 YOUTHS AGED 11-19. THE STUDENTS HAVE MULTIPLE PROBLEMS, MOST HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN DELINQUENCY OR CRIME, ALL ARE UNDERPRIVILEGED, AND ALL HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE SCHOOL'S TEACHERS INVOLVE THEMSELVES IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE STUDENTS' LIVES. STUDENTS ARE PAID $10 A WEEK FOR COMING TO CLASS, PLUS MINIMUM WAGE FOR PERFORMING JOBS AROUND THE SCHOOL. IN ALL ITS ACTIVITIES, THE SCHOOL TRIES TO DEVELOP A SENSE OF COMPETENCE IN THE STUDENTS, MAKING THE MOST OF ANY SIGN OF ABILITY IN ANY AREA. THE SCHOOL'S CHILDCARE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM WAS A 3-YEAR EXPERIMENT IN CROSS-AGE INTERVENTION, IN WHICH DELINQUENT AND DISTURBED ADOLESCENTS WORKED WITH MUCH YOUNGER CHILDREN FROM THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS, FROM CLINICAL DAY PROGRAMS FOR AUTISTIC AND SCHIZOPHRENIC CHILDREN, AND FROM COMMUNITY CENTERS. THE CONCEPTUAL FOCUS OF THE PROGRAM WAS EMPATHY AND COMPASSION--DEVELOPING THE ABILITY TO CARE FOR THOSE MORE HELPLESS AND NEEDY THAN ONESELF. WITH PROPER SELECTION, ORIENTATION, AND PAIRING, THE MORE SERIOUSLY DISTURBED ADOLESCENTS PROVED TO BE THE MOST DEDICATED AND ENTHUSIASTIC CHILDCARE WORKERS. THE PROGRAM'S MEASURE OF EMPATHY, USED IN SCREENING POTENTIAL CHILDCARE WORKERS, PROVED AN EFFECTIVE PREDICTOR OF ABILITY. THE PROGRAM'S PERFORMANCE IN INCREASING SELF-ESTEEM, FEELINGS OF COMPETENCE, AND EMPATHY FOR OTHERS IN FORMERLY DELINQUENT OR DISTURBED YOUTHS WAS EXCEPTIONAL. DETAILS OF THE PROGRAM'S PLANNING, IMPLEMENTATION, CONTENT, OUTCOMES, AND POTENTIAL FOR REPLICATION IN OTHER SETTINGS ARE PROVIDED. (LKM)