What is SHAPE?
SHAPE is a community based group in which a point and status process is utilized as a means for a student to be self aware of choices and their consequences. It is not a behavior modification program. The student chooses to look at behavior. The student looks at consequences. The student chooses what needs to be changed, if it needs to be changed, or how it needs to be changed. SHAPE never pretends it knows what is best for the student. It has too much respect for the student to do this. However, SHAPE does have values and rules which must be respected for a student to remain in SHAPE.
SHAPE is a village. Interaction and involvement in this village is the vehicle for growth of the individuals. The experience is intended to prepare the student for life in the village of family, town, country, world and universe. The complete contents of the SHAPE curriculum are available in the book "Gather Around The Stone".
SHAPE does not diagnose. SHAPE does not provide "treatment". SHAPE is not a therapy group. SHAPE is not a special education program. SHAPE is a village. SHAPE sees students as unique, yet SHAPE also encourages the student to see himself as 'nobody special'. Students who feel they are 'special' are angry the world is unfair. Since SHAPE is unable to make the world fair, SHAPE discourages feeling 'special'.
SHAPE is fully sensitive and supportive to each student's needs. However, SHAPE also recognizes each person in the village has responsibilities. These responsibilities are clearly spelled out to each entrant in the SHAPE village. All SHAPE students have problems. But no student will be allowed to lie down in the middle of the main intersection of the village to block the interaction, involvement, and growth of others int he village. If a student is going to participate in SHAPE, he must pull his own weight.
In this atmosphere, SHAPE hopes to avoid the 'enabling' of student irresponsibility that some well meaning alternative techniques and programs encourage. SHAPE hopes to prepare each student for life in the 'real' world that each high school student will eventually enter.
The SHAPE political process is clear, consistent, and inflexible. It provides the structure within which the work can begin in an atmosphere of empathic support, and appropriate confrontation.
The SHAPE student becomes cognizant of the process to reach 'within' to fulfill needs. He learns to align his own personal story to the bigger story of the universe. He learns to actively and honestly express how he is being affected by others in the community. He learns how his behavior and attitudes are affecting the community.
SHAPE is a village. Interaction and involvement in this village is the vehicle for growth of the individuals. The experience is intended to prepare the student for life in the village of family, town, country, world and universe. The complete contents of the SHAPE curriculum are available in the book "Gather Around The Stone".
SHAPE does not diagnose. SHAPE does not provide "treatment". SHAPE is not a therapy group. SHAPE is not a special education program. SHAPE is a village. SHAPE sees students as unique, yet SHAPE also encourages the student to see himself as 'nobody special'. Students who feel they are 'special' are angry the world is unfair. Since SHAPE is unable to make the world fair, SHAPE discourages feeling 'special'.
SHAPE is fully sensitive and supportive to each student's needs. However, SHAPE also recognizes each person in the village has responsibilities. These responsibilities are clearly spelled out to each entrant in the SHAPE village. All SHAPE students have problems. But no student will be allowed to lie down in the middle of the main intersection of the village to block the interaction, involvement, and growth of others int he village. If a student is going to participate in SHAPE, he must pull his own weight.
In this atmosphere, SHAPE hopes to avoid the 'enabling' of student irresponsibility that some well meaning alternative techniques and programs encourage. SHAPE hopes to prepare each student for life in the 'real' world that each high school student will eventually enter.
The SHAPE political process is clear, consistent, and inflexible. It provides the structure within which the work can begin in an atmosphere of empathic support, and appropriate confrontation.
The SHAPE student becomes cognizant of the process to reach 'within' to fulfill needs. He learns to align his own personal story to the bigger story of the universe. He learns to actively and honestly express how he is being affected by others in the community. He learns how his behavior and attitudes are affecting the community.