No Deposit, No Return

Unless a caring society makes a "deposit" today

we can not expect any "return" tomorrow.
-Kleos document

Doug Eddy thinks he has the ideal situation. Eddy is principal and main teacher at Kleos Children's Community school. He's in charge of the entire school and teaches the 14 students in grades seven through 12.

"I teach the basics - math, language arts, science, history, American government." Eddy explained. His situation is ideal because he is a teacher, has a direct influence on the students and lives on the site.

Students work in a program called Paces, which allows them to do exactly that: work at their own speed. "We test and put them at the proper level where they can be successful, " Eddy said. The Kleos children have had a rough beginning. Now they receive a lot of help on the road to success. Part of that help is the motivation sign in their classroom: "Initiative is doing the right thing without being told." To encourage them to do the right thing, Eddy and the Houseparents are available around the clock to help students in school or at home.

Elementary school is even more individualized than high school, Eddy said. There, elementary aide Susan Luttrell is in charge of the program. Her goal is simple. She wants to get the kids where they want to read. To meet that goal, Susan spends as much as two-thirds of her day on reading or reading-related activities. "A lot of adults don't read", says Eddy. "We're not going to let that happen to them."

Children with special interests are taken to Chiloquin for a portion of their school day. For example, one high schooler wants to play football. He takes some classes at Chiloquin High School then stays for football practice. Other students receive their physical education from Tim Lash, who teaches at Kleos.

The school is recognized as an alternative school by the state of Oregon and by Klamath County School District. As an alternative school, they get funding from the state. Eddy and Kleos director Gordon Hankins are pleased with that recognition, but they are not content to rest on their laurels. There are more goals to meet. Ultimately Kleos officials hope to have a separate building for the school and to become an alternative school for the community. Ideally, the school would house three classrooms, a library, lab, gymnasium and cafeteria. That idea ties in nicely with the purpose of Kleos which is to become an asset to tthe commmunity and state.

It also ties in well with Kleos' philosophy of child care: "Children deserve to be treated with dignity, honor and respect." That philosophy is one reason Kleos is now home to five children from the state Services to Children and Family. The children's community makes a long-term commitment to all its residents. Part of that commitment includes the parents. Kleos works with parents to teach them parenting skills and to prepare them for the day their child comes home. Children stay at Kleos a minimum of 18 months. In the seven year history of Kleos, one child stayed six years.

The 108-acre facility is located on the Willliamson River about 23 miles north of Klamath Falls. Today it's home to 17 children, but Hankins hopes that will change soon. He has plans for a new house, which will include room for visiting family members and others intersted in the facility.

Hankins, his wife Vicki, and the staff believe children are assets, not objects. At Kleos, they are considered people who can make a contribution to society, not an object that is disregarded. "We change the child then help him change the perception of himself", Hankins said. "We begin by giving them support then change them so they realize 'I am valuable. I can make choices.' We get the privelege of letting them realize how valuable they are."

The staff members at Kleos work with the children by listening, accepting and respecting with unconditional love. "We help them understand they do have value. Their contribution is worth something. They need to see they are valued. We replace ridicule with praise. You can't praise too much. We look for things to celebrate." For Hankins and the other staff members at Kleos, that celebration comes on a child's turn-around day: "When these kids come alive and that day happens when the light turns on and they come to believe in themselves."

OF GOOD REPORT

CHILOQUIN- As soon as Gordon Hankins enters the room at Kleos Children's Community, the atmosphere changes. Smaller children, not shy about their feelings, rush up to get a hug. Hankins, director of the community, is only too happy to accomodate. Older children are more inhibited, but they too wait for a sign of recognition from Hankins. When he's ready to leave, the children again respond. "Bye. Love you." they say.

That love is a big part of why Kleos is successful. Hankins, his wife Vicki and the Houseparents at Kleos dedicate their time to teaching children to love themselves. Each home at Kleos Children's Community has its own Houseparent teachers who act as surrogate father and mother. They also serve as models of maturity and activity and sources of love and counsel.

The lessons work. Some of the children who have left Kleos are making sure others have the same opportunity Kleos gave them. Their testimonials stand by themselves:

"I learned to love myself and others"
"I went from no hope to believing in myself and what I can accomplish."

Hankins relates the story of one yojng man at Kleos. Like the other children, he'd had a rough life.Hankins asked him what he wanted. "I'm looking for someone to trust me", the youth said. As he told the story, Hankins said, "We're the ones who have to prove ourselves trustworthy."

Unfortunately, Hankins said, there are thousands of children just like that. The state can't take care of all of them, that's why facilities such as Kleos are necessary. Right now, they're operating at capacity, yet Hankins gets about 15 to 20 calls a month from people wanting him to take more children. Because of that demand, Hankins would like to see at least two similar communities in each state.

"We need to do something for kids, open our home, invest in our future," he said. That's why Hankins and the other founders of the community named it Kleos. "Kleos is a Greek word. It means glory," Hankins explained. "That which is of good report and reputation. Our greatest good report comes from our children."