Consequences

It's not what I wanted.

I had a girl tell me this boy was telling her something inappropriate.

This was after another teacher reported he had his arm around another boys neck. 

The answer from the powers that be was, "There is a history between the boy and girl --mostly on social media." And concerning the issue between the boys, "There is a difference between intent to hurt and horseplay." 

Our incident forms are major and minor. But 3 minors equal a major. We are not allowed to send them to the office without a filled out form. The powers that be, decide consequences -- if any.

I am assuming this is typical in most schools?

Hierarchy of a recess incident

kid tells IA on the playground

IA tells teacher who tells IA to write up an incident report

Incident report may or may not go to office depending on severity

Incident report goes to Dean of Students who is at school 2.5 days a week

Dean of Students investigates when she has time, and may or may not call the children involved down to talk. This could happen days if not more than a week after the event. 

The adults may or may not learn what comes of that conversation.

The climate of many schools is the same. Nothing happens so kids continue the behavior. Nothing happens, so kids stop reporting. Nothing happens, so adults stop reporting. Noting happens, so kids retaliate.

Tonight I was included in an email to the 2 teachers and learned the boys fate. He actually has a consequence this time, but I'm not sure how I feel about it. It is deserved. But I get the feeling the consequence was reluctantly given. 

I understand. The powers that be are so far removed from the incident, that unless marks are left or a parent phone call is anticipated, nothing is that big a deal.

Except it is. Every "no big deal" wears away and wears down the structure until you realize there is a gaping wall where solid rock used to be. There have to be boundaries, and the boundaries need to be solid, so all involved can count on them. That doesn't mean zero tolerance, it just means that no means no and stop means stop. It means the consequence is clear, concise, and equally applied. 

Making excuses because of kids' home lives or abilities or our belief that if only the government gave us more money, public education would be better, is not the way to improve education. Bean bag chairs, mood lighting, and coffee bars are not how we improve education. Changing curriculum every year and giving every child a screen device for education is not how we improve education.  WE in education have to stop marinating in chaos. Only then can we say we are doing what is best for our kids. 

Child rearing experts say children need consequences and those consequences should be as close to the offense as possible and be related to the fixing the damage caused. Let's start repairing education by making it at least one place that says what it means and means what it says. A place that sets expectations and lets the kids know we have faith they are capable are living up to them. We owe it to them.