THE SCOTTISH RITE JOURNAL--ARTICLE--APRIL 1990--ARTPOPS.jun

                 POPS: Power of Positive Students
            DR. JOHN W. BOETTJER, 32, K...C...C...H...
            Managing Editor, THE SCOTTISH RITE JOURNAL
      1733 Sixteenth Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20009-3199

     It is hard to argue with a 98 percent approval rating.  And
that, based on three separate evaluations, is what the POPS program
got from students, teachers and parents!  As of today, just a year
and a half after its production, the Power Of Positive Students
program has reached over 700,000 children.  In nearly every case,
its grade is "Great!"
     But just what is POPS?
     It is a series of eight multimedia video tapes distributed
cost-free, because of grants and donations from the private sector,
to America's public schools.  Focused on the crucial early years
of kindergarten through fourth grade, its purpose is to increase
children's self-esteem and build positive life values.  Initial
successes in West Virginia and Kentucky have resulted in state-wide
demand in Utah, Wyoming, Montana, Arizona, Wisconsin and Virginia.
     The POPs Multimedia program began as an outgrowth of Dr.
Norman Vincent Peale's highly successful book in the 1950's, The
Power of Positive Thinking.  Dr. Peale's philosophies of
confidence, self-worth and positive thinking are given to primary
school students, especially those "at risk" of low self-esteem due
to changes in family structure, poor peer group acceptance or any
of the myriad other self-destructive forces that attack a child as
he attempts to build self-concept.
     Although it was inspired by Dr. Peale, the actual stories and
materials in POPS are due to the input of teachers, parents and
children across the country working with children's media experts
from "Sesame Street," "Reading Rainbow" and "3-2-1 Contact." 
Another unique aspect of the program is the allowance of "site
license".  For $448, a school receives not only the full program,
but is encouraged to make as many copies as it wishes of the
videos, audios, or written support material.  This means that each
teacher of grade level can have flexible access to POPS stories as
their schedule allows.
     Made up of four modules, the POPS multimedia presentations
involve storytelling, dance, song, puppets and animation as well
as classroom and real-life dramatizations to interest children in
understanding themselves and the world around them.  In particular,
the videotapes (which are accompanied by a teacher's manual, audio
cassettes, and a parental involvement page) strive to build
positive attitudes and beneficial concepts of self.  To quote Tom
McNeel, State Superintendent of Schools, West Virginia Department
of Education:            

     Having a great interest in providing high quality      
     educational programs on an equal-opportunity basis for
     so-  called "at risk" children, I believe that we must
     do all in      our power to help them succeed.  Most have
     little self-esteem.      Most believe they are doomed to
     failure.  Only through such   powerful programs as POPS
     and the daily nurturing of these   boys and girls by
     caring, loving teachers will they have the   opportunity
     to become successful, productive American    citizens.

     Or to quote some younger authorities on the subject of POPS
and life, Gary Michael, age 9, of Greenwood, Missouri, says:  "We
think these tapes teach us things about being little.  Then when
big kids say mean things we know what to do."  Young Timothy
Bohanan adds: "I like POPS a lot.  It teaches kids not to give up."
     Clearly, as substance abuse, violence, teenage pregnancy and
teen suicide--all in large part the results of early and
destructive negative self-concepts--stalk the halls of our 
schools, POPS is the right program at the right time.  By giving
very young students lasting and positive life skills and values,
we can truly make a difference for good in their lives.
     Sov... Gr... Cmdr... C. Fred Kleinknecht and The Supreme Council,
33, through the Scottish Rite Foundation are pleased to support
the POPS, Power Of Positive Students, program, and Brethren who
believe in the youth of America are invited to do likewise by
sending contributions to the Scottish Rite Foundation, 1733
Sixteenth Street, NW, Washington, D.C., 20009-3199.  All receipts
so designated will be forwarded directly to the POPS program.

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Clearly, as substance abuse, violence, teenage pregnancy and teen
suicide--all in large part the results of early and destructive
negative self-concepts--stalk the halls of our schools, POPS is the
right program at the right time.

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