Power Of Positive Adds Up, Activist Counsels Students

As coordinator for Bonner County’s Youth Accountability Board, retired Wisconsin math teacher Arlis Harvey has observed a disturbing trend among Sandpoint-area youth.

“It seemed to me that things like battery and shoplifting have increased,” Harvey said. “If self-esteem would rise, crime, absenteeism and drug use would go down.”

With that in mind, the 72-year-old education activist has seen the need and coordinated the resources to do something about it.

While visiting her former high school in Evansville, Wis., a few years ago, Harvey observed the results of a schoolwide self-esteem program called Power of Positive Students.

“I thought Sandpoint High School ought to have this,” she said. “I sat back and thought about it for 2-1/2 years.”

Eventually, after attending a seminar on how to carry out projects, Harvey mustered the courage to move forward on her idea.

“I don’t like speaking to groups,” she said, “but I can’t seem to stay happy unless I’m doing something that benefits the community.” So in October, Harvey presented literature about the POPS program to the SHS Site Council, a decision-making group of students, parents and staff.

Besides explaining the program, which uses an approach involving staff, students and parents, Harvey listed several results POPS could foster at SHS. She said she believes improved self-esteem would improve motivation for learning, self-reliance and a desire among students for solving problems rather than protesting them.

Harvey cited an ongoing parking lot dispute in 1993-94 that created sharp divisions among students, parents and administrators. The issue involved a controversial $16 parking fee imposed on students to hire an attendant because of vandalism and theft in the student lot.

“Positive-minded students could have found ways to handle it themselves,” she said. “Even more likely, the problem would have been minimal to begin with.”

Harvey’s proposal met with enthusiastic support from the council.

“We read the paper and asked her to continue coming,” ASB president Erica Loveless said.

Harvey came back a second time with news of a donation from the Selle Grange to fund the program.

“I asked them for about $1,200, and they gave up to $2,000,” Harvey said. “They thought this was one of the very best places to make a donation.

Funds have been used to buy POPS explanatory manuals, which provide ideas for teachers, administrators and students. Parents are encouraged to participate in the program by checking out the materials from the school library.

After studying the materials, Loveless, joined by fellow students Kristy Osmunson and Will Eschleman, introduced the POPS self-esteem concept to SHS teachers last week.

For starters, the students asked faculty members to meet and greet their students at the classroom door. Osmunson cited English teacher Mike McNulty’s daily handshake with each of his students as an easy way for them to enjoy some positive attention.

Now that Harvey has planted the POPS seed, students and staff will nurture the concept. With guidance from assistant principal Mary Steele and teacher volunteers, students will launch weekly themes such as “perseverance” or “pride” to be emphasized informally within classrooms and hallways at Sandpoint High.

“I think any school needs to have a concerted effort focusing on overall goals,” Steele said. “If everyone works on it the same week, with the hype, it can build awareness.”

Loveless has high hopes for the program.

“I’m tired of hearing everyone continually complain and gripe but never do anything about it,” she said. “So I’m hoping that POPS will change attitudes so people will be grateful or positive about what we have instead of (complaining about) what we don’t.”

, DataTimes