Love and Logic dignifies children, reduces adult stress, speaker says
January 1, 0001
Sally Ogden hosts an in-service focused on Love and Logic at St. Thomas More Catholic School on Aug. 7. About 130 educators attended the event. Photo by Bridget Hardy.
HOUSTON — Children can sometimes try the patience of a parent or teacher, to say the least. Adults get angry, use threats, try warnings and even try to humiliate children to get them to listen. Love and Logic is a philosophy that provides practical tools and techniques that help adults achieve respectful, healthy relationships with their children.
Sally Ogden, international speaker and acclaimed author, led a teacher in-service on Love and Logic on Aug. 7 to show educators how to integrate this philosophy into their school.
“The presentation was fantastic,” said Principal Kristen Thome of St. Thomas More Catholic School, who hosted the in-service. “I heard nothing but positive comments from all of the teachers. Everyone said it was the best way to start in-service week! It is always wonderful to attend training and come away with real life ways to handle issues in the classroom.”
About 130 educators from St. Thomas More and Christ the Redeemer Catholic School listened to Ogden explain how to empower students to solve their age-appropriate problems using consequences with empathy.
Ogden said she is certain that if teachers and parents adopt the powerful and practical tools of Love and Logic, their lives with children will improve dramatically, and become more fun and stress free.
“Classroom disruptions, chores, homework issues, back talk, power struggles, whining and more can all be handled with the simple tools of Love and Logic,” Ogden said. “Homes and classrooms become more peaceful and fun, while students develop strength and responsibility.”
Thome said that St. Thomas More has been practicing Love and Logic for three years and she has seen the impact first-hand.
“It stresses the importance of building caring and trusting relationships between teachers and students,” Thome said. “Compassion and acceptance help lead to a calm and warm environment. One of the aspects of Love and Logic is letting students accept logical consequences for their mistakes. I have found that when students own their mistakes, they learn from them.”
Ogden, who has been teaching Love and Logic for almost 40 years, said there is definitely a change in the schools that have committed to Love and Logic.
“There is a school in Iowa that incorporated just one Love and Logic technique, but it was used by every person on the staff,” she said. “They saw behavior improve dramatically, suspensions and discipline interventions reduce and achievement go up.”
She also shared a story of a student who had been bullied so much that she was suicidal.
“After she listened to what I presented, she changed her attitude and adopted the tools I introduced her to,” Ogden said. “She wrote me later to say that her life was totally changed. The bully no longer bothered her and her life was back on track. She was having fun and enjoying school again! This is not an isolated incident. These strategies are effective and time tested.”
Love and Logic is based on practical tools, and Ogden explained that acceptance is part of process.
“Love and Logic understands that it is difficult to change the outside world,” she said. “Our power comes from changing ourselves and our reaction to what happens to us. What I teach is how to interpret the actions of the bully so they don’t hurt us emotionally. Then adjust how we respond and react to their actions. An appropriate response can send a bully running for cover.”
Thome said she has seen the difference in the problem-solving ability of students and their growing acceptance of logical consequences.
“It makes such a difference when students are asked how they are going to solve their problem,” Thome said. “The focus on building relationships in a safe and secure environment leads to positive relationships. A sense of community begins with family, parish and school. When students feel part of that community, they begin to learn how they can be faithful citizens.”
Thome said she was happy to have the faculty of Christ the Redeemer Catholic School join in, as she had previously worked with their new principal, Dan Courtney, at St. John Paul II Catholic School.
“We were both impressed with the positive effects in behavior, responsibility and teacher/student morale that are natural results of this program’s implementation.”
Christ the Redeemer will implement Love and Logic this year.
For more information about Ogden’s presentations, visit her website at fearfreeed.com. Learn more about Love and Logic at loveandlogic.com to see resources for parents and educators.