Positive Reinforcement By Rich Kornoelje Several years ago I served as an assistant principal in a large public high school of fourteen hundred students. I found many aspects of my responsibilities both enjoyable and rewarding, however, there was little joy or satisfaction in supervising the three lunch periods each day. Making sure students were diligent in picking up their lunch trays, not smearing mashed potatoes on one another, or sticking peas on the ceiling or on their neighbors were not high on my list of "professional" things to do. Days prior to vacation periods were particularly bad times in the cafeteria. It was on one of these days that I observed a student spill his milk. What a mess. It was all down the front of him, on the table, on the bench and on the floor. I quickly diverted my attention elsewhere and watched him out of the corner of my eye with my superior peripheral vision. I knew this guy would try to escape, leaving someone else (like me) to clean up the mess. Well, I had this guy's number and as soon as he stepped one foot outside of the cafeteria, he was going to get his. I would make him clean up everyone else's mess for the day so he could see how much fun it could be. I slyly watched as he began his escape. To my surprise he approached the snack bar upon which I was leaning and gathered several napkins and returned to the scene of the crime. After wiping up the table, he got on his hands and knees and wiped up the bench and then the floor. Making his way to the exit, he deposited the soggy mess in the proper receptacle and left the cafeteria. After regaining my composure, I quickly followed the young man out into the hallway. I asked him his name, thanked him for his consideration and commended him for being so conscientious. He replied, "No problem," and went on his way. The thought crossed my mind to contact his home, and I determined to do it later that day. It was a little after 5:00 P.M. when I opened my car door to go home. It suddenly occurred to me that I had forgotten to contact the parents. My first thought was to call the next day, but then I thought better of it and went back to my office. After pulling his enrollment card, I went to my phone and dialed the number listed. After a few rings a lady answered. "Hi. This Rich Kornoelje calling from the high school." I heard a hard swallow (or maybe it was a gulp) on the other end and realized that the only time I ever contacted parents was when there was trouble or bad news. I quickly said, "Your son showed me something today that really demonstrated some good upbringing..." I then went on to relay the story. At first there was silence. Then I could hear a few sniffles, followed by some sobs. After gaining her composure, the mom said, "You will never in your entire lifetime realize what your phone call has meant to me. My husband left me several years ago and I have had to raise this young man by myself, and it is so hard. I know how he behaves at home with me, but I always wonder about his behavior away from home. You will never know how much your phone call has done for me." That phone call was a life-changing experience for me. Since that time many years ago, I have purposed to make at least one positive contact with parents per week and urge - not require - my teachers to do the same. We strive to make contact with the parents of a student who is not often praised for his or her actions. The parents are happy, the student does well with positive reinforcement, the teacher is blessed and everybody wins. .·:*´¨`*:·..·:*´¨`*:·. *: * Richiele * * *·. .·* `*·-:¦:-*´ ³´`*:»§«:*´`³