Sept 10, 2018, Fraser Coast Chronicle: PAWS reduce stress at Aldridge https://www.frasercoastchronicle.com.au/news/paws-reduce-stress-at-aldridge/3517194/ ALDRIDGE State High School's Special Education Unit has a new member with a waggy tail.… This means the school's Learning Enhancement Centre can implement the Pet Assisted Wellbeing or PAWS Program…. "Proven to reduce stress by around 11 per cent, patting a dog has an incredibly positive impact on students and staff at Aldridge,” she said…. "She will find you and come and help you be mindful and calm and just focus on her for a little while, instead of whatever issue you have going on. … "We hope that we can help our students better understand a whole range of social situations, how they feel and how to behave in an appropriate manner, especially when feeling anxious or stressed. "We also hope to develop programs to include local Primary Schools in the future.” Monnie visits the LEC on Fridays and statistics show attendance is up and behaviour management interventions are down on the days she is at school….
Childhood Lost
Children today are noticeably different from previous generations, and the proof is in the news coverage we see every day. This site shows you what’s happening in schools around the world. Children are increasingly disabled and chronically ill, and the education system has to accommodate them. Things we've long associated with autism, like sensory issues, repetitive behaviors, anxiety and lack of social skills, are now problems affecting mainstream students. Blame is predictably placed on bad parenting (otherwise known as trauma from home).
Addressing mental health needs is as important as academics for modern educators. This is an unrecognized disaster. The stories here are about children who can’t learn or behave like children have always been expected to. What childhood has become is a chilling portent for the future of mankind.