Discipline In The Classroom

Menu•Go to the Principal’s Office!!• Zero Tolerance Policy

•Safety Without Suspensions

Go To The Principal’s Office!By Sarah McKibben

This article shows that in the past, going to the principal’s office is always something negative.

When teacher’s have problems with their students, they are sent to the office to be disciplined.

Go To The Principal’s OfficeBy Sarah McKibben

In this article McKibben is asking the principal about his new idea for

rewarding good behavior. Instead of the teachers sending down students

who have been bad, they are sending down students who have gone above

and beyond in the classroom. This idea is reinforcing positive behavior and simply ignoring bad

behavior. (Minor things)

Go To The Principal’s OfficeBy Sarah McKibben

I think that the ideas the principal had for positive reinforcement was a great idea. Not only does this reward positive behavior, it opens the door for a new type of relationship between the student and staff. With a good relationship between a student and principal, the student is going to feel more comfortable going to the principal to report any serious problems. I agree with the principal when he said

“There are times when we have to discipline students, yet when we also recognize the positive things that students do, both students and staff members seem to enjoy their day more.”

Zero Tolerance PolicyBy Rhonda B. Armistead

This article explains what the zero tolerance policy is and the way teachers are forced to use it even when it doesn’t make much sense to follow. With zero tolerance, students are punished with suspensions and expulsions.

Zero Tolerance PolicyBy Rhonda B. Armistead

Armistead goes on to tell that students will eventually use the zero tolerance policy to their advantage. For example, if a student knows he has a presentation that he is not ready for the next day, he could start a fight to be suspended and then wouldn’t have to give the presentation.

Zero Tolerance PolicyBy Rhonda B. Armistead

Overall, I would definitely agree with Armistead that this policy is too extreme. There are definitely different ways to handle bad behavior that would concentrate more on disciplining but yet interfering with the students learning as little as possible.

“Such a one-size-fits-all framework seriously limits administrators' use of their professional judgment in a given situation, and often forces them to impose punishments they otherwise feel are inappropriate to the facts.” -Armistead

Safety Without SuspensionsBy Russell Skiba & Jeffrey Sprague

This article states that suspensions and expulsions only have a negative impact on education. They also go on to introduce a better way to handle bad behavior in schools.

Safety Without SuspensionsBy Russell Skiba & Jeffrey Sprague

The system that Skiba and Sprague offer is called School-wide Positive Behavior Support. It is a team of 5 or 6 people who study and teach others about positive reinforcement. There are 3 main components that help make this support system work: prevention, multitiered support, and data-based decision making.

Safety Without SuspensionsBy Russell Skiba & Jeffrey Sprague

I agree with the authors that there needs to be a change with suspensions and expulsions.

“This approach is based on the assumption that when educators across the school actively teach, expect, and acknowledge appropriate behavior, the proportion of students with serious behavior problems decreases and the school's overall climate improves.” – Skiba & SpragueThe approach that they offer is a good start but I think positive reinforcement could be reached in a much less complicated matter.

Conclusion

Discipline in the classroom is a major part of teaching. The methods of discipline we follow directly effect what is being taught in the classroom. If we concentrate more on the positive things students are doing, the students will realize they can get attention for being good and will be less likely to misbehave.

Work Cited• McKibben, S. March 2009. “Go to the Principal’s Office”. Principal

Leadership. (Middle School Ed.) 9 no7 64. Aug 9, 2009http://vnweb.hwwilsonweb.com.proxy.ulib.iupui.edu/hww/results/results_single_fulltext.jhtml;hwwilsonid=WBWHOOYREU23FQA3DILCFF4ADUNGIIV0• Armistead, R. B. June 11, 2008. Education Week Commentary. 24. August

9, 2009http://vnweb.hwwilsonweb.com.proxy.ulib.iupui.edu/hww/results/external_link_maincontentframe.jhtml?_DARGS=/hww/results/results_common.jhtml.42• Skiba, R & Sprague, J. September 2008. Educational Leadership 66 no1 38-

43. August 9, 2009. http://vnweb.hwwilsonweb.com.proxy.ulib.iupui.edu/hww/results/results_single_fulltext.jhtml;hwwilsonid=WBWHOOYREU23FQA3DILCFF4ADUNGIIV0