At Alaka’i O Kaua’i, our school-wide discipline policy is based on the foundational skills of Love and Logic. Love and Logic is a philosophy founded in 1977 by Jim Fay and Foster W. Cline, M.D. It is the approach of choice among leading educators, parents, and other professionals worldwide, as it is dedicated to making parenting and teaching fun and rewarding, instead of stressful and chaotic. Alaka’i O Kaua’i believes:
Respect, appreciation, and love prevents potential problems
- When learners feel respected, appreciated and even loved by their teachers, they are far more motivated and cause far fewer problems.
Freedom to problem-solve and make decisions fosters motivation
- Learners are far calmer and more motivated when their faciltators allow them to make choices and solve their own problems within limits.
Focusing energy on problem prevention is rewarding
- Successful educators focus most of their energy on simple tools for preventing misbehavior or keeping it small, rather than trying to provide consequences for every problem.
Showing empathy and compassion is effective
- When consequences are necessary, effective educators provide them with sincere empathy or compassion.