Wednesday, August 02, 2000

WILMINGTON, N.C. - Tired of nagging your son or daughter, worried about being too permissive or concerned that your style of discipline just isn't working?

You can learn the key to developing a healthy, positive relationship with your child, grandchild or other important youngster in your life on Tuesday, Aug. 15, when the UNCW Watson School of Education presents Jane Bluestein, Ph.D.

"Grownups, Kids and Boundaries: Inspiring Responsibility and Cooperation in an Atmosphere of Love, Consideration and Mutual Respect" is scheduled for 7 p.m. in the UNCW Cameron School of Business auditorium. Bluestein will discuss how individuals can set boundaries with children to inspire good behavior, avoid conflicts, encourage responsibility and self-management, resolve and prevent problems and establish a foundation of mutual trust, consideration and respect.

"We are extremely pleased that we have the opportunity to share Dr. Bluestein's insights with the surrounding UNCW community," said Diane Calhoun, director of the UNCW Watson School of Education Professional Development System (PDS) who is coordinating the program. "Her down-to-earth speaking style, practicality, sense of humor and numerous stories and examples make her ideas clear and accessible to her audiences."

A former classroom teacher from inner-city Pittsburgh, Bluestein now specializes in programs and resources on relationship building, effective instruction and guidance and personal development. Much of her work focuses on the interactions between adults and children, particularly children at risk. As the head of Instructional Support Services Inc., a consulting and resource firm in Albuquerque, N.M., Bluestein has worked worldwide and spoken internationally.

She is an award-winning author whose books include Parents in a Pressure Cooker; Parents, Teens and Boundaries; The Parent's Little Book of Lists: Do's and Don'ts of Effective Parenting and 21st Century Discipline. Her newest book is Creating Emotional Safety in Schools.

The program is free and open to the public.

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NOTE TO THE MEDIA: Bluestein will present two additional programs for educators from the 10 area school districts who are partners in the Professional Development System (PDS) coordinated by the UNCW Watson School of Education. You are invited to cover either of these programs or arrange a one-on-one interview with Bluestein.

"21st Century Discipline: Building Student Commitment, Responsibility and Self-management"­ 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 15, at the Hilton Wilmington Riverside. This program is open to area pre-kindergarten to grade 12 teachers and counselors, as well as community college instructors in the region and university faculty. Diane Calhoun, PDS director, expects between 250 and 300 educators to attend. It will emphasize preventive "win-win" techniques that encourage student responsibility, self-management, on-task behavior and accountability and is applicable to all ages and grade levels, especially for students at risk.

"Creating Emotionally Safe Schools," part of the PDS: Partnerships in Action annual conference ­ 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 16, at the Hilton Wilmington Riverside. At this program, Bluestein will identify behaviors people use to create safety and how these behaviors sometimes interfere with learning, achievement and on-task behavior. She will explore the impact that safety and the lack of safety have on learning, retention, retrieval and application of information as well as student behavior. This program is open to PDS site coordinators, principals and central office staff and university faculty.

Bluestein will also be available for interviews during her two-day stay in Wilmington. Arrangements can be made by calling Marybeth Bianchi at 910.962.4164.

Additional information on Bluestein is available at her website http://www.janebluestein.com.