CHAPTER 6

• The Merit System
• Rule Violations
  
• Earning Status
• Action Items for Chapter 6 

Merits

Merits are primarily awarded by the student in what we call a “Self-Directed Process”.  Developing Self Direction or Internal Direction rather than requiring continued External Direction is the long term key to your child’s success. In order to foster self-direction, students evaluate their own progress each day, and award themselves “merits.” Staff then review student evaluations and merits to provide a safety net for those who would exaggerate their scoring or exploit the system.  There are students who attempt to do so but they are the exception rather than the rule. Our experience is that when people evaluate themselves, they tend to be quite accurate or maybe even critical than others would be.   Since the evaluation is their own personal one, it means more to them, and they have a reason to be as accurate as possible. They begin to understand more clearly what they need to do differently so they can give themselves a higher evaluation. They come to realize that they themselves, and not the staff or others, are responsible for their own progress. There is no one holding them back. They begin to feel more empowered and motivated, and as they do so, they begin to make progress. Furthermore, once they have completed the School program, they will continue with this same “Self-Directed Process” during their first few months at home.

Scoring

The student’s merits are based on the student’s self-evaluation.  Students receive a rating in one of the following categories:  “exemplary,” “good,” “some improvement needed,” “unsatisfactory,” or “staff correction.”  Each rating has a merit value:

• Exemplary                                  = 3 merits

• Good                                          = 2 merits

• Some Improvement Needed       = 1 merit

• Unsatisfactory                            = 0 merits
  

The students will rate themselves daily on:

Students have an opportunity to award themselves up to 30 merits per day.  An average score would be around 20 merits per day (the evaluation form may be found at the end of this chapter). The merit system places responsibility for progress and change squarely upon the student. It emphasizes ownership of the process, and does not reward merely going through the motions.  In this system, we create an environment, and provide resources whereby students are more keenly focused and aware of their own accountability in determining their own results.  Thus, as students become increasingly self-directed, they see the progress that they are making, and are encouraged to become more actively involved in their own successes.

If a staff member disagrees with the student’s rating, and feels he/she is trying to exploit the system, he or she can award a staff correction and the student will receive three less merits (-3).  At the end of each day, each student completes his/her evaluation form and the staff reviews it.  The student totals his/her merits, the staff then makes any necessary adjustments by subtracting merits or any staff corrections and then deducting any demerits for rule violations.  The resulting daily total of merits earned each day is then accumulated on an ongoing basis. 

 Leadership evaluation

Students also have an opportunity to award themselves up to 12 bonus merits for leadership.  Students can earn merits for each day they serve as a bunk leader or a facility leader. Students evaluate themselves using the same scoring: 

• Exemplary                                  = 3 merits

• Good                                          = 2 merits

• Some Improvement Needed       = 1 merit

• Unsatisfactory                            = 0 merits

• Staff Correction                         = -3 merits

Leaders evaluate themselves in the following areas:

Additional Merits

Students have the opportunity to gain bonus merit points on the basis of the following:

• Assistant bunk leaders = up to 2 merits each day

• Successful completion of the Orientation seminar = 50 merits

• Successful completion of the Discovery seminar = up to 200 merits

• Successful completion of the Focus seminar = up to 400 merits

• Successfully staffing any seminar with commendation = up to 100 merits

• Completion of each academic course = 50 merits 
  

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Rule Violations

Demerits

Demerits, like merits are mostly awarded by the individual student. This process is accomplished through self-corrections.  When a student has a rule violation, staff will usually give students the option of doing a "self-correction."  Self-corrections are when students take responsibility for their actions and outline how they are going to make behavior corrections in the future.  As a result, the consequences are significantly reduced.

CATEGORY 2: 201 Disrespect to A Peer 202 Disrespect to Staff or Parents 203 Disrespect to Property (banging    against walls etc.) 204 Disrupting School 205 Dishonesty - by omission or coverup 206 Not Following Directions 207 Breaking Confidentiality 208 Gossip or Rumor-Spreading 209 Out of Area 210 Unauthorized Communication with Other Student 211 Violating rules that are unique to the home or school

50 Demerits 10 Study Hall Points

25 Demerits

CATEGORY 3: 301 Major Rude Act 302 Major Horseplay 303 Shutdown Violation 304 Petty Theft 305 Violation of Visit 306 Major Mischief 307 Defacing (Restitution) 308 Blatant Rule Violation 309 Negative Attitude - Major 310 Runaway Talk 311 Major Dishonesty 312 Academic Deficiency 313 Physical Intimidation (Bullying) 314 Major Disrespect 315 Illegal Items 316 Lending/Borrowing	80 Demerits 20 Study Hall Points	50 Demerits
CATEGORY 4: 401 Insubordination 402 School/Activity Removal 403 Work Sheet Removal 404 Refusal 405 Theft 406 Vandalism (Restitution) 407 Fighting 408 Tattooing/Piercing/Disfiguring 409 Cheating in School 410 Runaway Plans	Loss of 3 Statuses with minimum merits 50 Study Hall Points	Loss of 2 Statuses with minimum merits 30 Study Hall Points
CATEGORY 5: 501 Tobacco 502 Alcohol/Drugs 503 Disruptive Removal 504 Serious Misconduct 505 Run Away 506 Out of Control 507 Self-Inflicted Injury	Move to Regular Status with Zero Merits 80 Study Hall Points	Move to Regular Status with Zero Merits 60 Study Hall Point