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Show salt lake free not for sale volume one march 16f 1972 Children's Behavior Unit number thirty . . . VV I the message is love ' are special education classes but they Small tutoring booths are set up often pushed out of the schools, will have received a good start here." in all the large classrooms. Here, Another room is full of instructors work with the individual ignored by the community and prayed for by their parents. youngsters pasting, cutting and child in a loving, firm way. is There a far more realistic coloring. One child was previously Throughout the Unit people are problems are often failing academically, she explained. The Unit helps youngsters learn to deal effectively with hostility and aggression while tutoring them in basic academic skills as well. Most of the work is done on a e basis but the children join group activities throughout the day to become comfortable and successful in such settings. "They must learn to work in normal school groups but we can bring them up to grade level faster zero to $150.00 per month difference between the Behavior Unit and a normal school, is that teachers gear questions to make the child successful, to give him a chance to answer correctly. The teaching is on a positive basis which gives the child a good self-imag- e. "Some of our children are from other depending on a family's ability to programs such as Head Start," Mrs. pay. Many parents volunteer in the Gregerson said. (Continued on page 3) program to pay the tuition. 'drop-out- s' pre-scho- non 4 cheerful. The strongest feelings one gets in touring the Unit, is one of A mother volunteers time to work with children. Photos by Roger Taylor learning peer skills through scouting, s c,? camping trips and other excursions. Many of the children at the Unit inter-ac- t successfully with other children of their own age. Some have never been able to make their own decisions prior to enrollment at the Behavior Unit. In addition to non -- is 4 V"' ' $ Cl! Economic Project Termed High Risk know ... lost $25,000 in a restaurant operation," he said. byKirkTerry Commissioner Stephen I Offering an alternate plan, Development Task Force on March 8 Harmsen said a system of contract that he is hesitant in approving, in its awards could be considered by the By the company present form, the Local task force. Development Company, a project providing "seed money" for material that would give an economic boost anc sustained overhead costs, and lumpsum, Harmsen to small businesses by giving them not an out-rigk feels the high-riscapital would not money. "It could turn out to be a can of be needed. If the project was to award worms," he said, stating the general opinion of the Commissioners. If contracts to small businesses, the you just give the money away, Commission would probably buy Harmsen said, there is going to be a the program. The Commission and man that doesn't get his and he's the local bureaucracy feel they going to be mad or the money will be shouldn't get into the loan business, Harmsen said. This would enable the misused and the business will fail. "You must plan for the worse Commission to be admonished if the it's high risk capital." Harmsen said project is successful and Model Cities that the present "giving away would be blamed if it failed, he said. The Commissoner told Dunn money" concept doesn't appeal to the Commissioners. "Politicians just and Clement Jay, Chairman of the don't want to take a chance." task force, that they should meet William Dunn of the Economic with the Commission and draw up Development Program, a sister contracts that could be awarded to program of the Local Development small businesses. It was generally agreed that the Company said that the "company" would help stimulate community project should have a strong Model proposed businesses with financial Cities backing in case a show of force support. He said that the at the Commission was needed to would work implement the project. Task force members voted on a with the Development d Program, a consulting agency for the motion to create a planning businessman. The profits realized by committee that would consider the small businesses would in turn revising the company. When the economically enhance the comfriittee has developed the plan a community. "Somebody ol cannot communicate verbally. "Many of these children will go on to a regular public school from here," Mrs. Gregerson said, continuing, "Some will go into i- Commissioner Stephen Harmsen hand-in-han- language therapy program. This class involves age children who pre-scho- tf " ''company" graded elementary classes, there f ' -- informality and positive have never been able to i ' ht Gregerson said. The classrooms are bright and teaching the can children. Such take the form of field trips, a piece of food when the child gives the right answer or a lot of loving praise. Youngsters are also involved in : - Harmsen told the Eonomic Mrs. in r- A big adults and foster grandparents help motivate and educate these special children. The professional staff all have educational backgrounds in psycology, behavioral science or elementary education. The ratio is 30 staff members to 50 youngsters. Tuition at the Unit ranges from one-to-on- with individual tutoring," I an "out of control" type child. He gathering data and evaluating each couldn't stay with one project for child, timing their attention spans, any length of time. He is now quietly their responses and reactions, their drawing an elephant. relationships with other children and The staff consists of members of adults. every age group. Teenagers, young t , u I. Children with problems approach and a sincere offer of help for these youngsters. It's called the Children's Behavior Therapy Unit. Located in a beautiful old building at 27 "C" Street, the program has been operating for nearly 5 years. Gayle F. Gregerson, director, discussed some of the behavior problems dealt with by the highly motivated staff. "Some of our children have been expelled from the public school system, some have been runaways, others are simply destructive," she said. We find children with emotional s Sw for the Local Development is going to benefit Company, it will present the plan to that shouldn't," continued In small tutoring booths, a child receives instruction and positive one-to-on- e the Joint Board of Commissioners Harmsen." As it might turn out, those for approval. who would benefit the most will be the big franchisers and chain operated businesses like car washes. I |