VISITING A "SYSTEM" HOUSEHOLD - WITHOUT PROBLEMS! (Quoted from Chap. 5 of "Discipline At School Made Simple" by Allan E. Harrison)

     After such glowing System praise as I have previously set forth (in previous Chapters), most readers will want a verbal peek at these wonderful techniques in action since verbal action always speaks louder than just words. Rather than introduce a few examples from my own personal experience and perhaps embarrass the subjects, I prefer to return to J.J.'s authoritarian household. We shall wave a magic wand for the necessary introduction of the System within that family. Nothing shall be changed except for System implementation, so that you can compare attitudes and their improvements. Please feel free to refer to Chapter II whenever you can't recall the difference. Hopefully, nothing will be redundant and boring if you will look for the improvements.
                                     In The Home (Again)
     Bang! went the bedroom door and J.J. jumped in his chair. Oh no! he thought. Bruce must be awake, and if he wasn't, he would be now. In the past his kids had been more trouble than they were worth. Now that he had started this new Harrison System, he hoped it would change with time.
     At first it had been a real struggle, he reminisced, between his conscience and his personal desires before actually adopting the System. He had certainly wanted all of the things he hoped the System would provide for himself and his family. But on the other hand, he also had still desired family control. Once his conscience had won, and the System had become firmly established, the decision was never regretted.
     Although extremely doubtful at first, J.J. had allowed the System to function as it should. Sometimes it had been difficult to restrain himself from the temptation to jump in and take control. A few times, well, maybe it was more than that, he remembered now with some shame, he had forgotten his resolve and over-exercised his authority. Of course, he had been forced to pay for damages and fines with his home dollar savings. But what a fantastic improvement this was over the emotional price it cost before. Truthfully, he had to agree, the program gave him more enforceable control than before. Possibly the nicest thing about the System was the fact that it wasn't necessary to personally supervise each child. Instead, all seemed to want to abide by the home laws.
     Four year old Bruce came tearing into the living room, disturbing his father's reverie and screaming that his brother, James, had hidden his shoe. Now that J.J. had put the System to work in his household, he had no intention of ignoring this breach of home law #10. He had only one Sunday off from work each week and he wanted it quiet. "Bruce, please come here and sign my 'Expense and Fine' sheet for breaking the law. You know yelling in the house will cost you $2 as soon as I turn my sheet in to the Banker at the end of the day. So be careful and don't lose any more or you may be bankrupt."
     As a contrite Bruce headed for the kitchen, J.J. thought how pleasant life had become under System methods without the big emotional upheavals of before. Everything was so simple and calm;  problems could disappear with a mere signature on a special piece of paper. Even that small portion of J.J.'s sadistic nature was satisfied with the penalty extracted, since the home dollar fine hurt much longer than any spanking and was just as effective without his presence.
     Bruce had hardly reached the kitchen before he was back at his father's side demanding that something be done about James having hidden his shoe.
     "Vey well," J.J. said calmly, despite the fact that he was about to lose more minutes of his precious day off, "do you want to sue him and can you prove your case?"
     Bruce nodded vigorously.
     "Then please tell James he must return with you to act in his own defense."
     Bruce hurried from the room and returned with his 9 year-old brother who wore a sheepish grin which told J.J. the lad was guilty. Nonetheless, instead of saying so, J.J. asked how he wanted to plead - guilty and place himself upon the mercy of the court and save costs, or not guilty and present his defense, taking his chances as to the verdict.
     James thought only a moment and declared himself guilty.
     "All right!" J.J. said as solemnly as possible. "It is the judgement of this court that you quickly find Bruces's shoe and give it to him. Furthermore, that you reimburse him for his unnecessary emotional strain in the sum of $5 and that you be required to pay Bruce's fine of $2 for screaming which he would not have suffered except for your actions."
     "But I didn't make him. . . ."
     J.J. cut James off before he could finish, "Oh yes you did. At least that is the opinion of this court and if you care to appeal this decision to the Family Council you may register the necessary request along with the fees to do so."
     James shook his head negatively and walked away muttering about his dwindling Bank Account while his father recorded his judicial decision on his expense and fine sheet. James knew that a Court Order needed no authenticating signature because the word of a Judge is respected in any court case. J.J. returned to his reading of the Sunday paper, grateful once again for the System's easy methods for achieving domestic tranquility. Bruce left the room all smilles, hoping James would hide his shoe again tomorrow morning, but at the same time, knowing that he never would.
     Meanwhile, Marcia, J.J.'s wife, discovered during her usual Sunday morning inspection, that 13 year-ol Wayne's room was messy again, that 15 year-old Steven was playing his radio too loudly, and that 11 year-old Susan was quarreling with James about who had the bicycle today. Marcia easily disposed of the first two irregularities by having each boy sign her expense and fine sheet beside the particular offense she had written down. The bicycle argument was quickly and fairly settled by holding a "quickie" auction wherein Susan outbid her rival and then rode away on the vehicle after signing the Family Council's rental sheet. My what a change, Marcia thought to herself, after it was all over. Only last month, before the advent of the System, these two kids had fought like cats and dogs because of that stupid bike.
     In spite of the benefits of the System, Marcia still couldn't get over her fear of her husband's loud voice calling her from some other part of the house. In the past this had always meant big trouble from something the kids had or hadn't done. Even now she couldn't surpress a small shiver of trepidation as J.J.'s voice reached her in the front yard, "Marcia! Please come to the kitchen."
     J.J. was bending over the garbage can with the lid in one hand. "Marcia! Isn't emptying the garbage Wayne's household duty?"
     His wife nodded affirmatively.
     "Well, the can is full and stinks, and I'm sure it's too heavy for him to carry out now." He turned to face his wife. "Home law # 15 states that it must be emptied daily, so he rates a fine, doesn't he?" Not waiting for a reply, he continued disgustedly, "Also I suppose I'll have to carry it out for him how."
     Marcia smiled at her husband, partly in relief and also because of his old habit of jumping to conclusions. It was really hard to teach an old dog new tricks. "Now John, don't be so hasty. I filled most of that can today from the trash in the garage. The garbage was emptied on schedule yesterday. And as far as its being too heavy for Wayne, you're right, as he himself realized. Wayne has already agreed to pay a dollar to Steven for his help in carrying it out this evening at the regular time for dumping it. I also heard him contract with Wayne for his assistance in constructing a small cart of some sort which could be used to wheel the can. He promised nobody will ever carry it again because he wasn't about to pay Steven all that extra money (in home dollars)."
     Marcia now beamed proudly at her supprised husband as she continued. "You should have heard them, J.J. They even got into an excited discussion about the possibilities of going into business together and trying to market their invention around the neighborhood. They said other families must be having the same problem and might want to buy such a cart."
     J.J.'s mouth hung open in surprise. "I'll be darned! That System really does work miracles, doesn't it?" You know, Marcia, we should see what the System can do with their school work. I'm going to suggest to the Family Council that each 'A' on their report card be worth $10, a 'B' $5, and any 'C' $1 (in home dollars). Also it wouldn't hurt to propose a home law that would allow one person to collect a dollar from another whenever incorrect grammar (or a swear word) is heard and then corrected by the collector."
     Marcia nodded appreciatively. "Yes, that's a good idea and I'll introduce a motion at the next meeting which you can second. That way the whole family can vote on it. Oh! And by the way." Marcia tried to smile timidly as she found courage from the System's protection before continuing, "Would you please sign my expense and fine sheet for yelling inside the house?"
     Much of the rest of the morning went smoothly except for Susan who seemed to monopolize the telephone. However, no one really objected since she had spent many hard-earned home dollars for this privilege which she appeared to enjoy above all others. James attempted to monopolize the T.V. but his opponents insisted upon an auction which quickly settled priorities and satisfied everyone.
     J.J. answered a knock at the back door and admitted Billy Brown who had come to play with James. J.J., the old authoritarian habit still strong in him, reminded James not to get dirty and that he must be ready to leave the house for church not later that 10:15.
     Once again, J.J. had only nicely bcome involved with the newspaper when sounds of an argument arose from James's bedroom. He sighed with weariness as he hurried to the doorway. "Well, what's the trouble now?"
     "Billy won't pick up his share of the toys," James exclaimed angrily, "and I don't want to be fined for a messy room."
     J.J. looked around and agreed that the need was acute; toys were everywhere. "Well, James, your friends and your toys are your responsibility. How you handle it is solely up to you, but if either of you disturb the family, James must pay for it. You and I can't force Billy to do the right thing, but I'm sure when he thinks about it he will want to pick up the toys, so that you will want to invited him back another day to play."
     Billy thought about this only a second or two before beginning to put the toys away.
                                     Around The Town (Again)
     At 10:30 sharp, without any urging on Marcia's part, the children flabbergasted their parents by presenting themselves all cleaned and dressed for the trip to town.
     Marcia was the first to speak with admiration in her voice, . . . . . .

FOR THOSE WHO CAN HARDLY WAIT FOR SOMETHING SIMILAR TO HAPPEN AT THEIR HOUSE, PLEASE CLICK ON OUR MANY OTHER FREE WEB SITES DESCRIBING "HOW TO START THE HARRISON SYSTEM" AT HOME (OR IN THE CLASSROOM) - OR ELSE BUY OUR BOOKS!