More About Miracle Meadows School
MMS is not a confined correctional facility nor is it a drug rehabilitation center, but is an educational facility that gives emphasis to helping students overcome behavior disorders such as, defiance, aggression, sexual promiscuity, criminal behavior, substance abuse, truancy, and running away. These fundamental behavioral modes can be displayed in various forms, but it is the intent of MMS to deal with the underlying problems.
Firstly, MMS administers an educational curriculum including elementary and secondary education. MMS is a testing site for the SAT, ACT and PSAT tests.
Secondly, MMS uses a “tough love” philosophy, realizing that both “tough” and “love” are important components to enhance the students’ progress. While showing genuine care and patience for each student, MMS also expects the student to be fundamentally responsible for his/her own actions and words. Natural and logical consequences are excellent motivators for behavior change, and are administered when a student acts in an irresponsible or defiant manner.
Thirdly, manual labor, or work education, is a vital part of teaching responsibility and raising self-respect in students. Thus, all students are required to work and contribute to the overall success of running a campus facility at MMS. Work includes farm labor, cleaning, teaching assistance, secretarial/office work, computers, vehicle maintenance, ground maintenance and general carpentry.
Staff members use a disciplining approach to influence change in the students. Staff members work with students side by side in a teacher and disciple relationship. It is a give and take relationship that shows respect and requires total commitment from the staff members. The staff/student relationship should never be characterized as a counseling relationship but rather a disciplining or mentorship type relationship.
Social skills, responsibility and interpersonal relationships are best acquired through active learning. Thus, both male and female students are accepted and become actively involved in each other’s learning through peer counseling. Students take part in determining discipline for each other and in confronting other students, both when problems come up and in small group sessions.
Finally, MMS recognizes that behavior disorders are frequently closely linked to the student’s home and his/her relationship with his/her parents. Thus, considerable time is invested in understanding the parents’ perspective, in working through life issues and reducing tension between the child and parent through joint sessions or, over the telephone when long distances preclude regular meetings.
The learning program at MMS is designed to assist students in bringing their lives into balance. This balance includes a wide range of experiences enhancing the mental, physical, social and spiritual domains of life. The Biblical basis for the four dimensional balance of life is found in Luke 2:52: “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and Man.”
Learning experiences at MMS include the following:
- Elementary and Secondary Classes
- Parent-Student Learning Sessions
- Social Skills Curriculum
- Daily Behavior-Change Strategies
- Spiritual Growth Experiences
- Individual Behavioral Counseling
- Healthful Lifestyle Learning
- Youth and Church Seminars
- Practical Work Skills Learning
- Communication and Conflict Negotiation Experiences
- Positive Peer Influence Training
- Leadership Training
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