July 1, 2009
Not PBS, but rather this.
I mentioned it in my last post, stating (prematurely, as it turns out) that I was going to join the committee to help implement this program in our building next fall. After doing some reading on the website, though, I sent this email to our vice-principal today.
Thanks for being so thoughtful and generous with your time and information regarding PBIS. Unfortunately I have to go with my gut on this one and decline participation, for a couple of reasons.
First, in looking closely at the PBIS website, it’s clear the research-based evidence supporting the efficacy of this model is in its infancy. I’m quoting the PBIS documentation verbatim there. (On a side note, I mistrust how the site creators have buried this actual fact such that you have to sift through several webpages and a 16-page Word document to figure it out.)
Secondly, exactly because the model is not yet supported by robust research, it is my strong feeling that it’s going to be very important to our higher-ups to do it “by the book,” without modification. And as you know from our conversation, my own research reading on democratic schooling and intrinsic motivation leads me to believe that significant modification is already called for in PBIS in order for it to work in the long term. In otherwords I’m not convinced that any suggestions to change or examine the implementation of PBIS from a critical perspective will be supported by the district.
I wish you the best of luck. There’s many positive aspects to the program and I hope they play out. I will do my best to support them as a teacher in the building.
Sincerely,
Dina
I hope I’m being pessimistic, reactionary, and ill-informed. I really do. Anyone out there willing to comment on this program or his/her experiences with it?
July 1st, 2009 at 5:39 pm
Wow, that’s awesome. I think you’re right about this one. Just for fun (what the hell is wrong with me), I poked around on the PBIS website. Good times. I love that they ask valid research questions and then don’t really answer them. Please blog about both the response and implementation of this program at school. I’d love to hear about what happens. My sense is that it won’t really get anywhere due to a lack of original creativity and buy-in from both the faculty and more importantly, the kids.
July 1st, 2009 at 10:53 pm
Hello Dina!… as a practitioner for 5 years and PBIS coach/trainer this past year here are some thoughts…PBIS looks for the best data supported innovations out there and places a system around it, embeds a practical information feedback loop for adjusting along the way and school teams drive it by contextualizing it to their communities/values and what outcomes are important to them (nobody is “selling anything to anyone” or making mega bucks.. it is grassroots, requires 80% staff buy-in) it is about adult culture/behavior first and foremost and has some basic underlying assumptions (e.g., all behavior serves a purpose and is learned, and if we, as educators expect certain behaviors, we teach and we live them and recognize the heck out of them so students CAN internalize them… I really try to keep away from the whole boo-hiss arguments that often pit behavioral thinkers in opposition to constructivist thinkers… it’s a red herring making it too easy to miss the point. it’s a big tent, lots of work and ideas for everyone to find their voice in creating AND sustaining a more positive and proactive staff, student and family culture. it’s not quick, it’s not easy, but it works well (there really is a good deal of data out there– while definitely NOT in it’s infancy, it has certainly reached it’s adolescence! i suggest you take a look at some of the work in IL, MD, FL, CO who are a little further along… if you would like more specific links or information simply let me know… i took a salary cut and gave up my summers off to take a job working in this field– it has been professionally and personally meaningful and rewarding work. feel free to ask me if you have any questions, friendly comments. i wish you and your school team much luck for the coming school year! -ellen
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:29 am
I too am a long-time practitioner, coach, and trainer. I couldn’t say it better than Ellen…thanks. Rewarding is the absolute best word to describe my work with numerous schools, and their successes with PBIS have come in some tough urban environments. I have numerous links, tips, and resources around PBIS on my web site: http://www.pbis299.googlepages.com
Good luck!
-Alan
July 3rd, 2009 at 7:39 am
I am really excited to get comments from PBIS trainers, Alan and Ellen. Thank you so much.
A couple of questions I’d like you both to continue to dialogue on, if you’re willing.
A) I think you hit the nail on the head when you bring up the conflict between behaviorist and constructivist approaches to school governance. This is one of my own concerns about the program. As I’m sure you know, even though clarifying expectations and rewarding positive behavior is a big step in the right direction, it still ultimately falls under the heading of behavorism. There’s a great deal of research in the past 25 years (particularly by Ed Deci and Rich Ryan) that indicates that reward systems simply do not work in the long term for the stated aims of school. Can you comment?
B)Ellen, you also state that PBIS is “about adult culture/behavior first and foremost.” This is another concern of mine. Can you comment, particularly on the secondary level, on the specific role of students, families, and local community in PBIS? How much of a say– try giving a percent– do each of these stake-holders have in the process of implementing the program in schools? What are the vehicles for their voice?
Thanks again.
July 4th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
My district piloted PBIS two years ago in a middle school setting. They found it to be successful enough to go district wide, so this previous year each school began the PBIS process.
Within my own school it has been quite interesting to participate in the reality of a program like PBIS. As you have mentioned there are positives, but there are also problems. I’ll be interested to hear how things go in your future posts.