Strike Four: An Educational Paradigm Servicing Troublesome Behaviour Students.

For chronically troublesome students educational strategies of exclusion currently lead to revolving door syndrome, resulting in ever-increasing learning deficits, and further inappropriate behaviours. Strike Four is an educational paradigm servicing "category three alienated students" (exhibiting significant social and/or emotional difficulties and behavioural disorders) in retentive environments in Australia, with the goal that these young people re-enter mainstream, technical college, or the workforce by the end of the 19-weeks. A practitioner research model made simultaneous paradigm development and testing possible. The process of program development is reviewed including an ethos document, the behaviour management policy, the development of positive contracting as a tool, and the truancy policy. Under "Curriculum as a Tool to Shape Behaviour," the value of flexible curricula and the use of key teaching times are discussed. Teaching stories were developed and tested in the classroom to address specific life skills as situations arose. Programs employing Strike Four strategies have achieved close to 100% attendance and placement of students into work or technical college. A post-support program provided support to the transition to the workplace. These students were still functioning in their placements three months later. (EMK)