By Scott Alfes

October 2008

I am Scott, an 8th grader I’ve been to schools that use

PBS and schools that don’t I have Bipolar Disorder and

Tourette’s syndrome I am 13 years old I love to cook, and I love animals

To inspire you to use PBS To tell you how great it was for me

So other kids don’t have to suffer

So I can be “famous”

Up to 5th grade, I went to schools that didn’t use PBS

For 6th grade, I went to a great PBS school

Easily depressed Easily frustrated by schoolwork Needed extra affection Easily annoyed by other kids Easily upset during games and

competitive activities Funny (not always in a good way)

Teachers thought I was a brat People thought I was “doing it on

purpose” I didn’t deserve to be in the

school I got kicked out of class for things

I didn’t mean to do I was a nincompoop

A new me Teachers understood me better I was happier [I was never blue when

I was with Mr. Green] I was learning I made friends I bonded with the teachers I wanted to try harder

Before Grades: C’s, D’s, & F’s (Z’s if they

had them I felt …After Grades: “A” Honor Roll I felt …

Before Reading: 4th grade level in 5th grade I felt …After Reading: almost 8th grade level in 6th

grade (3 grade levels!) I felt …

Before Trouble communicating with teachers I felt …After Very easy communicating with

teachers (Dodgeball story) I felt …

Before Behaviors: 2 suspensions & sent to

the office 5 times/week I felt …After Phone calls home (Dodgeball Story

Part 2) I felt …

Before I started at my new school, we had a meeting.

At the meeting…•I did the talking•I made a plan with the team•I met other kids•I agreed to go to school the next day

Mr. Green and his Red Hand (Being blue never happened)

Even if I did something wrong, I felt the adults were trying to help, not get me into trouble

I felt supported everywhere so I had a better mood

A better mood meant …

Group Fall Activity•Without PBS I felt like I would just fall with nobody standing there or maybe just 1 person to catch me

•With PBS it feels like there are 5 or 6 people there to catch you