ABSTRACT
The detached student is like an iceberg floating in the ocean. He or she presents a chilly exterior, keeping much hidden from view, even from those who would help them.
Alfie was one such student. He was 13 when he first came to the school. He experienced a range of problems, many of which seemed to relate back to the enormous difficulty he seemed to experience in getting to school on time in the morning. School staff tried positive reinforcement and various punishments to no avail. There was a shared sense among staff that they were just not getting through to Alfie. He was an enigma. Punishment and rewards were met with the same blank indifference. It wasn’t that Alfie was defiant or aggressive; he was simply unresponsive. The staff were exasperated but determined not to give up. Sooner or later they would make a breakthrough-they hoped. Eventually their patience paid off.
