I believe that any classroom or school discipline plan needs to be clear, consistent, and fair in order for it to work. I strongly believe this because in my first year teaching, I had to grow a backbone and learn to be firm with my policies, or I would have been eaten alive by parents.
Discipline is a tricky subject and teachers and administrators have a wide view on it. It is believed by some that teachers must be firm in order for their classroom to run smoothly. Others feel that kids are kids and exceptions should be made on a case by case basis. Some educators feel that disruptive children should be removed from the classroom so they do not affect the rest of the class' learning. Others feel that students should suffer consequences if they are late or unprepared for school. All teachers and school leaders have a right to their own behavior management plan, but the important thing is that their expectations are clear, fair, and that they are acting on them in a consistent manner.
My first year teaching I was 22 years old, had never taught 4th grade, and had no teaching team to support me. Before the school year started I loosely put together a behavior plan and homework policy and posted it to my website. As the year began, I started to cave in to every excuse a parent or student brought to me. I made tons of exceptions and gave students far too many warnings about their behavior before taking action. By setting up the school year like this, I put myself in a really tough position. If I made an exception for one student, than it wouldn't be right to not excuse another for their late project or poor behavior. Especially when they told me "It is a one time thing, I promise I will do better". Parents quickly got word of the exceptions that I had made for one child, and reminded me of that when they came in with their own request. They even started to question my grading and asked that I "re-look" at their child's assignment from time to time. In a few words, I was being walked all over. I felt like I had no control and that I had lost my integrity as a teacher. Needless to say, the next school year I created very clear policies regarding behavior, homework, and grades and I stuck to them. I had no problems with parents that entire year, and my judgement was never questioned again. It made life easier for me, easier for the students, and easier for the parents because "that was the policy and it wouldn't be fair to others to make an exception for one child and not another". As a school leader you must also be consistent in following school procedures and policies to maintain a fair and orderly school environment.
Discipline is a tricky subject and teachers and administrators have a wide view on it. It is believed by some that teachers must be firm in order for their classroom to run smoothly. Others feel that kids are kids and exceptions should be made on a case by case basis. Some educators feel that disruptive children should be removed from the classroom so they do not affect the rest of the class' learning. Others feel that students should suffer consequences if they are late or unprepared for school. All teachers and school leaders have a right to their own behavior management plan, but the important thing is that their expectations are clear, fair, and that they are acting on them in a consistent manner.
My first year teaching I was 22 years old, had never taught 4th grade, and had no teaching team to support me. Before the school year started I loosely put together a behavior plan and homework policy and posted it to my website. As the year began, I started to cave in to every excuse a parent or student brought to me. I made tons of exceptions and gave students far too many warnings about their behavior before taking action. By setting up the school year like this, I put myself in a really tough position. If I made an exception for one student, than it wouldn't be right to not excuse another for their late project or poor behavior. Especially when they told me "It is a one time thing, I promise I will do better". Parents quickly got word of the exceptions that I had made for one child, and reminded me of that when they came in with their own request. They even started to question my grading and asked that I "re-look" at their child's assignment from time to time. In a few words, I was being walked all over. I felt like I had no control and that I had lost my integrity as a teacher. Needless to say, the next school year I created very clear policies regarding behavior, homework, and grades and I stuck to them. I had no problems with parents that entire year, and my judgement was never questioned again. It made life easier for me, easier for the students, and easier for the parents because "that was the policy and it wouldn't be fair to others to make an exception for one child and not another". As a school leader you must also be consistent in following school procedures and policies to maintain a fair and orderly school environment.