Alva Review-Courier -

JOPLIN, Mo. (AP, Sept. 2, 2016) – It's not just about reading, 'riting and 'rithmetic anymore.

Joplin teachers and staff are focusing more this year on teaching character, social skills, etiquette and proper behaviors to students – right down to basic skills such as how to greet one another and follow instructions.

The Joplin Globe (http://bit.ly/2cmlEhS) reports that a behavior-focused program is in full swing at South Middle School, where principals and teachers have drafted a list of 35 "essential" actions and attitudes that students should exhibit. The essentials are being taught during the first two weeks of school, and will be reviewed mid-year and at the end of the year. Every lesson is followed with the school's new motto: "This is how we do business at South Middle School."

"It has made an incredible difference in the behavior of kids in this school," Principal Steve Gilbreth said.

Among the 35 skills that students are being taught are making eye contact during conversations, addressing others by name, excusing oneself when bumping into others and not speaking in class unless addressed by a teacher. Gilbreth said he hopes the skills will prove useful to students not only while they're in middle school, but also in high school and into their adult lives.

"We ask kids to make a commitment to keep these skills with them through life ... to make them a kinder citizen wherever they go," he said.

The list is modeled after Ron Clark's book, "The Essential 55: An Award-Winning Educator's Rules for Discovering the Successful Student in Every Child." Gilbreth said he came across the book recently and found that it was too full of good tips and ideas – such as the "easy" skills of eye contact and handshakes – to ignore.

Eighth-grade student Karihn Handy appears to already have a good grasp on South's "Essential 35."

"We learn how to say 'thank you' and 'you're welcome,' and we do kind things for each other, like opening the door and saying, 'yes, ma'am' or 'no, sir,'" she said. "It's important so you can be polite to each other."

Eighth-grade student Levi Stokesbary said the skills are important to learn because "not very many people" exhibit them anymore.

"This is showing that the South is nice and takes care of everybody," he said.

Debra Lawler, an eighth-grade science teacher, said her students have embraced the list of acceptable behaviors. It's not that they were intentionally being rude or disrespectful before, she said – it's that many of them just haven't learned yet how to behave properly.

"I've told my students, 'Think how far ahead you'll be; people will be impressed by this,'" she said. "Most of them are really great kids; you're just reminding them (of acceptable ways to act)."

Heather Van Otterloo, an eighth-grade reading and writing teacher, said she has begun to notice improvements in behavior across all her classes, not just in the homeroom-style class where the program is being implemented.

"I've heard a lot more, 'Yes, ma'am' or 'yes, Ms. Van Otterloo,'" she said. "I think this is going to help them for the rest of their lives. We want to give these kids that advantage."

Gilbreth said that for some students, learning proper behaviors is new; for others, it's a reinforcement of acceptable actions they have learned at home. His objective is not to place blame for poor behavior on anyone, but instead to supplement behavior education that students might be picking up elsewhere.

"I would think it would be negligent of us to not take the opportunity to teach this to kids," he said.

Interim Superintendent Norm Ridder said that even though the district is less than two weeks into the academic year, he is already starting to see benefits.

"When you have a focus on behavior, and you're teaching the behavior as opposed to reacting to the behavior, your academic approach is much, much easier," he said earlier this week at a meeting of the Joplin Board of Education. "Really, the first three days of school have been phenomenal."

What's the cause?

Steve Gilbreth, South Middle School principal, believes that one reason for the decline in student behavior and etiquette in recent years has been the rise of social media. He said it can be easy for students to pick up poor language, actions and attitudes based on what they see on social media and on television.

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Information from: The Joplin (Mo.) Globe, http://www.joplinglobe.com