NCJ Number
58577
Date Published
1978
Length
30 pages
Annotation
THE OBJECTIVE OF THE CLAYMONT MIDDLE SCHOOL CLUSTER PROJECT IN DELAWARE WAS TO EXPAND THE SCOPE OF SERVICES AVAILABLE TO YOUTH IN THE AREA. AN ADLERIAN COUNSELING APPROACH WAS USED.
Abstract
IN APRIL 1976 THE SUPERVISORY BOARD OF THE DELAWARE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PLANNING COMMISSION AWARDED $4,309 IN FEDERAL FUNDS TO THE CLAYMONT SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOL CLUSTER COUNSELING PROJECT FOR SCHOOL RELATED DELINQUENCY PREVENTION. THE PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT WAS TO USE A PREVENTIVE COUNSELING STRATEGY TO ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR FAMILY COURT REFERRALS. THE TARGET GROUP SELECTED TO RECEIVE PROJECT SERVICES CONSISTED OF ONE-HALF OF THE 1976-1977 SIXTH GRADE CLASS AT THE CLAYMONT MIDDLE SCHOOL, CONSISTING OF A FAIRLY EQUAL DISTRIBUTION OF GIRLS AND BOYS. IN SEPTEMBER 1976 ALL MEMBERS OF THE SIXTH GRADE CLASS WERE TESTED TO DETERMINE THEIR INDIVIDUAL SELF-CONCEPTION. THE SELF-ESTEEM INVENTORY FORM A SCHOOL/ACADEMIC SUBSCALE WAS THE TESTING INSTRUMENT, AND THE SAME TEST WAS USED AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE PROJECT. A COUNSELOR WAS HIRED AND COUNSELING SESSIONS BEGAN IN THE FIRST WEEK OF OCTOBER. EACH OF THE 12 GROUPS PARTICIPATED IN A TOTAL OF 18 SESSIONS. COUNSELING SESSIONS USED ADLERIAN THERAPY, BASED UPON THE CONCEPT THAT IMPROVEMENT OF AN INDIVIDUAL'S SELF-ESTEEM AND SELF-CONCEPT WILL STRENGTHEN SOCIAL COOPERATION AND INVOLVEMENT. A POSTTEST WAS ADMINISTERED 3 DAYS FOLLOWING THE CONCLUSION OF GROUP COUNSELING SESSIONS. AN ANALYSIS OF ALL TEST RESULTS IS INCLUDED IN THE REPORT. SOME OF THE FINDINGS INDICATED THAT THE COUNSELED GROUPS INCREASED THEIR SELF-CONCEPT SCORES BY AN AVERAGE OF 3.1 POINTS. IN THE EVALUATION IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT THE PROJECT HAD PERFORMED WELL; IT MET ALL OF ITS TIMETABLES AND STATED PERFORMANCE AND IMPLEMENTATION OBJECTIVES. STATISTICAL EVIDENCE DEMONSTRATED THAT BOYS IN THE EXPERIMENTAL GROUP FARED BETTER THAN BOYS IN THE CONTROL GROUP IN TERMS OF SELF-ESTEEM. ALSO, TEACHERS AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS WERE ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THE PROJECT, BUT ATTEMPTS TO MEASURE PROJECT IMPACT BASED UPON THE SELF-ESTEEM INVENTORY SCORES MAY NOT MEASURE CHANGES IN THE PROJECT PARTICIPANTS' ATTITUDES. FOOTNOTES AND TABLES ARE INCLUDED. APPENDIXES PROVIDE INFORMATION ON CLASSROOM PROGRAM OUTLINES, STATISTICAL ANALYSES OF PROJECT TEST RESULTS, AND THE COUNSELOR'S RESPONSE TO THE EVALUATION. (PRG)