Behaviour codes part of everything school does

Delcie Martin, principal of Merivale Primary School in Tauranga. Picture / Alan Gibson

Merivale Primary School in one of Tauranga's poorest areas introduced its own values programme this year, with pleasing results.

"It is not a stand-alone curriculum subject - it is codes of behaviour which are part of everything we do," principal of the decile 1A school, Delcie Martin, said yesterday.

After consultation with parents and much discussion with the children, staff decided on a set of standards which come under the umbrella of Merivale's motto, "E tu kahikatea - Stand Tall."

They are respect, consideration, co-operation and pride. Over-arching them all is aroha - a concept pupils in the predominantly Maori school understood well, Mrs Martin said. "It is purely and simply based on what we see as a need."

The children were rewarded for upholding the values, which stressed basic things like good manners and compliance.

Respect covered "everyone and everything".

Mrs Martin said 80 to 85 per cent of students were courteous and respectful most of the time, while the others were learning to be.

"We just had to do something because we thought these things were lacking in some children. Many parents didn't have the opportunity themselves."

Reaction from the children had been "great" and parents and staff were positive because they could see improvements in behaviour since the school's strong focus on values. "Our society doesn't model them very well. I think we have got a bit of a breakdown these days if crime is any indication," she said.

Shelley Lawson, who has a son and a daughter at Merivale, welcomed the school's new programme.

"It's good. More schools should have it. My son was a little ... Since he came here he has changed. It has turned him around."

Nihal Lal said she and her husband instilled values in their children and it was good to be supported by the school.

Teresa Aldridge agreed that it was a benefit for good kids to have reinforced at school what they learned at home.