Dear Runkle Families,
“I told the teacher what happened but she didn’t do anything about it.”
This sentence, spoken by a student, is often at the root of many of our concerns about safety, teasing, bullying, and disrespectful behavior in our school community. The more I talk to teachers and parents about some of the behaviors that occasionally occur on our playground or in our lunchroom the more I have come to understand that it is the perceived lack of consequences that is most upsetting to children and to adults.
There are certainly times when behaviors go unreported, and there are even times when adults choose not to take action. Parents and staff have all faced the dilemma of deciding which situations need intervention and which ones we want children to learn how to negotiate for themselves.
Sending a child back to “work out how you and your friends will take turns on the swing” is sometimes the exactly right intervention. The reality is that there are usually consequences, which are crafted on a case-by-case basis as appropriate to the offense. Since we don’t actually publicize the consequences in specific cases it may be helpful for the community to know what the array of possible actions might be. As a usual first step teachers speak with students and try to help them resolve their differences. There may be some consequences within the classroom for a period of time that are part of the on-going classroom management and discipline that teachers develop. Sometimes children are sent to the office to have a “time out” until they have calmed down, or, they are sent to the office for a conversation with one of the administrators. Specific consequences might include a loss of recess or other privileges, time spent in the office, a phone call home, a meeting with parents, an in-school suspension, an out-of-school suspension, and in the extreme case, even expulsion from school.
The Runkle Code of Conduct is posted in every classroom, and teachers and administrators try to reference all disciplinary issues to the Code so that children can better understand what appropriate actions look like. In every case students are expected to apologize either in person or in writing to the other parties involved in an incident.
Given the variety of circumstances that happen each day in a schoolhouse, we are cautious about setting up “mandatory sentencing.” There are some areas where the consequences are automatic: bringing a weapon or lighter or explosives to school will result in a suspension. An attack on a fellow classmate or staff member will result in being sent home.
Fighting is likely to result in a suspension as well. It often takes time to sort out what happened, who was involved and the appropriate consequence for the infraction. One last point about consequences: there needs to be some understanding that those who are not directly involved in an incident and its aftermath may not know all the facts about what happened. There must be trust that a process has been followed and that consequences have been fairly applied.
Ultimately, our goal is to foster respectful and appropriate behavior as we attempt to diminish incidents that are inappropriate. Research tells us that a clear code of conduct, consistently applied with fair consequences is a formula for a safer school. Research also tells us that schools succeed even better at this when they find ways to publicly celebrate successful behavior.
We are working on recognizing and celebrating good responsible behavior when we see it. Things like the awards at the K-2 assembly, the honor roll, and other kinds of awards for individuals and recognition for whole classes are ways that we already encourage children to do the right thing.
Developing a safe and respectful school climate is a responsibility that all the adults share in a school community. With your help and support we can improve upon what we already do to make Runkle an even better place for children to grow and learn.
Sincerely,
David Summergrad
Tags: behavior, discipline, respect