Is Group Punishment Effective?

[froglady]

Do you feel that punishing a whole class or group of students (MS/HS) for the actions of one or two corrects behavior by using peer pressure, or do you think that it sets the stage for bullying?

I'm concerned that the resentment that the other students feel towards the culprits may lead to bullying or shunning. (since bullying is forbidden)

I'm sorry, that "No" should not be in the second option, and I can't figure out how to edit the poll to delete it.

 

[Pop Daddy]

I dont know

 

[DISUNC]

Do you feel that punishing a whole class or group of students (MS/HS) for the actions of one or two corrects behavior by using peer pressure, or do you think that it sets the stage for bullying?

I'm concerned that the resentment that the other students feel towards the culprits may lead to bullying or shunning. (since bullying is forbidden)

When a whole class is punished for the few it sets the stage for bullying & retribution.

I HATED HATED HATED being punished because some other kid in the class did something wrong. Even all these years later, I resent Pop Daddy for never being quiet in class.

 

[freckles and boo]

While that might work with siblings, I hate the idea of using it in a classroom full of kids, especially if the guilty parties are known. It does create resentment and it makes people think you don't value real fairness.

 

[mommasita]

When a whole class is punished for the few it sets the stage for bullying & retribution.

I HATED HATED HATED being punished because some other kid in the class did something wrong. Even all these years later, I resent Pop Daddy for never being quiet in class.

 

[Pop Daddy]

Even all these years later, I resent Pop Daddy for never being quiet in class.

but she was so dang boring

 

[Becky_Boop]

It's not just bad because of bullying, revenge, etc., but it is unfair to the kids who didn't do anything at all.

 

[JoyG]

I find that a little element of peer pressure goes a long way. I don't usually have the whole class work together, but break them up into smaller groups and have groups work together for a reward as a team. I put one "cut up" in each group and I am careful about catching that one being good to reward the group. I also teach third grade, so I don't know if this would work in middle school or high school.

I give the group points for good behavior, turning in hw, doing what they're supposed to, etc. I also take points away from the group if someone is talking. On Fridays the group with the most points gets a treat.

 

[yeartolate]

They did it when I was growing up, it was pretty effective.

 

[DISUNC]

but she was so dang boring

True! But you will never ever have another chance for Sr. Mary Aquainus to teach you about the Birds & bees! And you kept interupting her telling her how wrong she was!

 

[Pop Daddy]

True! But you will never ever have another chance for Sr. Mary Aquainus to teach you about the Birds & bees! And you kept interupting her telling her how wrong she was!

Im just glad DNA evidence wasnt around then

 

[Becky2005]

While that might work with siblings, I hate the idea of using it in a classroom full of kids, especially if the guilty parties are known. It does create resentment and it makes people think you don't value real fairness.

I don't like group punishment unless the entire class is being unruly! Heck in 6th grade DD told me they ended up with whole school punishment and the girls were ticked off at the boys for a VERY long time. Someone in the 6th grade boy's bathroom overflowed it (or something). It happened twice (whatever it was was done on purpose) -- so since no one fessed up they locked the bathrooms BUT they didn't only lock the boy's bathrooms, they locked the girl's ones too even though the girls had nothing to do with whatever was going on in the boy's bathroom! There weren't any problems in the girl's bathroom at all yet they got punished pretty much the whole year for it. The theory was even though the girls didn't do anything wrong, they probably knew who did & since no one was giving any names for anything, they got the same punishment as the boys. I don't think the restrooms got unlocked all year. Luckily my DD is a camel and never uses the restrooms at school in general. I did hear about it though and the unfairness of it, etc...

I do think it's a set-up for the kids that are known to cause problems. I always worry about this for my older DS -- he has quite the tendency to be impulsive and basically get in a wee bit of trouble without even trying. I could see the entire class getting aggrevated with him if they all got punished just because of him. He doesn't need any more help with having things for kids to pick on him for since he already has a reading disability and some other issues.

Plus, I do remember a few things like that happening when I was in school and I hated I would get in trouble for something someone else did that I had absolutely no control over and had absolutely nothing to do with it yet I got punished anyway.

 

[golfgal]

It really depends on the situation. Sometimes it works great and is very effective other times it isn't a good idea. How is THAT for a definitive answer???

 

[DISUNC]

Im just glad DNA evidence wasnt around then

Science wasn't even around then! Yabba Dabba Do!

 

[ducklite]

I had a teacher who was big on punishing the entire class, because of one or two jerks. A bunch of us finally got to the point where we figured we were going to get punished whether we did anything wrong or not, so we would get as rowdy as the kids who were always getting the entire class in trouble. It backfired terribly on that teacher who instead of getting to the root of the problem, took the easy way out. I still harbor resentment for that rotten old witch.

 

[RitaZ.]

Bad idea to punish the whole group, especially at the MS and HS level. Bullying is bad enough, there is no need to add to it. Deal with the culprits and leave the rest of the class out of it.

 

[disneychrista]

Unless i am ready it wrong your thread title asked if it is effective but then the answers to the question are opposite. NO = it is effective and YES = it is not effective or is wrong.

 

[GraysMom]

I don't like group punishment unless the entire class is being unruly! Heck in 6th grade DD told me they ended up with whole school punishment and the girls were ticked off at the boys for a VERY long time. Someone in the 6th grade boy's bathroom overflowed it (or something). It happened twice (whatever it was was done on purpose) -- so since no one fessed up they locked the bathrooms BUT they didn't only lock the boy's bathrooms, they locked the girl's ones too even though the girls had nothing to do with whatever was going on in the boy's bathroom! There weren't any problems in the girl's bathroom at all yet they got punished pretty much the whole year for it. The theory was even though the girls didn't do anything wrong, they probably knew who did & since no one was giving any names for anything, they got the same punishment as the boys. I don't think the restrooms got unlocked all year. Luckily my DD is a camel and never uses the restrooms at school in general. I did hear about it though and the unfairness of it, etc...

Wow, I can't believe the county allowed the school to operate w/o bathroom facilities available. Around here if there is a problem with a water pipe or something and a school doesn't have running water, the kids go home due to unsanitary conditions.

 

[Disney Doll]

I hate when a superior berates the whole group for something one or two people did. I think it makes them seem wimpy...like they don't have the guts to confront the problem.

With school age kids, it could set up the troublemaker for bullying.

 

[basas]

Do you feel that punishing a whole class or group of students (MS/HS) for the actions of one or two corrects behavior by using peer pressure, or do you think that it sets the stage for bullying?

I'm concerned that the resentment that the other students feel towards the culprits may lead to bullying or shunning. (since bullying is forbidden)

It depends on the situation. If you have a band concert and the a band behaves poorly, punishing the entire band (a team) is an effective way to teach the kids a lesson.

I know when i coach hockey if someone messes up a drill/talks back/whatever, the whole team does manmakers. We operate as a team so they need to learn their behavior is going to affect others.

On the other hand, if a small group of kids is behaving poorly in the classroom, I think it's better to punish just the offending kids.