Is this school "punishment" acceptable?

[DisneyDmbNut]

I haven't read the whole thread, but they did this in my middle school..Your name on the board was a warning...if you got a check mark, that was something..like writing sentences...I don't remember..I think 3 check marks was a detention.

Never thought that it was terrible...I was on there for talking a few time, but never for detention

 

[jodifla]

No I'm sorry. Adults in the work world are most definately out there for everybody to see and judge. My first job was as a cashier at a Pizza Place. When I spent to much time leaning on the counter flirting with the boy customers who came in I was told IN FRONT OF THE WHOLE RESTAURANT "There are Customers Waiting To Be Served." If it happened too often, I have no doubt that the Manager would have asked for my hat and apron...right there on the spot.

My most recent job was as a System Analyst for a Banking Software firm. Every week -- production reports went out that listed BY NAME the number of assisgnments that had been finished and the reported error rates.

Right there for everybody to see -- who was being successful and who wasn't.

If a child cannot handle others knowing that she made a mistake, how will she ever participate in a Spelling Bee, a High School Speech Class, having to defend her Thesis in front of a panel of Professors in College, standing up in a conference room as an adult to present next year's budget --- being a keynote speaker at the Yearly sales conference?

Just because you've been perhaps treated poorly in several situations shouldn't be a license to treat a classroom of 5-year-olds poorly. And I don't think your Pizza Hut manager was out of line...That person told you what needed to happen. He/She didn't put your name on a board in Pizza Hut featuring "bad employees of the week." Gee, notice how they never list THOSE when you're eating in a restaurant.

And, you know, not everyone is meant to be in the public spotlight. And some people don't "toughen up" at 5 years old. Another thing management taught me is you don't treat motivate everyone in exactly the same way.

 

[jodifla]

So, then, how was it possible to discipline your employees without it being in front of everyone else?

Well, I would talk to the person about what needed to happen next with their work, without harping on what was done wrong. I keep myself focused on the work.

If someone was a talker, (and I had a few of those) I'd pull them aside quietly while others were working, and if we needed a longer conversation, I'd find an office to talk to them in.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

Just because you've been perhaps treated poorly in several situations shouldn't be a license to treat a classroom of 5-year-olds poorly

I was treated poorly? Good Lord I should have SUED!

 

[cardaway]

Another thing management taught me is you don't treat motivate everyone in exactly the same way.

Since you're still going the "management" route...

How many managers still have 20+ direct reports? Isn't the average class size way over 20 students?

If a manager does have 20+ direct reports, are you suggesting there is ONE way to handle all 20 of them? In a class room the teacher has little choice but to handle the daily issues with each student the same way.

 

[In a hurry]

To me, a child as young as 5 needs more chances. The name on the board thing is black and white, good and bad. The light system is more cautionary, and the way the system is implemented in friends' children's classrooms, they can work their way out of a yellow light more quickly. Perhaps is a subtle difference, but it seems a lot less punitive and more constructive to me.

And I see 5 and 6 year olds living up to what is expected of them on a daily basis. When kids know what to expect, and what the consequences are, they tend to step right up to the plate, in my experience. Giving warning after warning, and then coming down on them teaches them nothing but how to push each rule to the limit.

The kids in my classes get one reminder, and then a consequence (which keeps me from having to nag or harp), and, believe it or not, I have to give out very few consequences. Kids like to follow rules and enjoy learning in a non-disruptive atmosphere.

 

[lulugirl]

I have no problem w/ this form of "punishment".
Does anyone really feel a childs self esteem will be crushed because his/her name is on the chalkboard? I really don't see why any teacher should tip toe around any particular student because he/she is just so "sensitive".

 

[LindsayDunn228]

I have no problem w/ this form of "punishment".
Does anyone really feel a childs self esteem will be crushed because his/her name is on the chalkboard? I really don't see why any teacher should tip toe around any particular student because he/she is just so "sensitive".

I agree 100%.

Furthermore, where have these kids come from? When I was growing up, kids were kids. There was no "sensitive" about it.

 

[jodifla]

And I see 5 and 6 year olds living up to what is expected of them on a daily basis. When kids know what to expect, and what the consequences are, they tend to step right up to the plate, in my experience. Giving warning after warning, and then coming down on them teaches them nothing but how to push each rule to the limit.

The kids in my classes get one reminder, and then a consequence (which keeps me from having to nag or harp), and, believe it or not, I have to give out very few consequences. Kids like to follow rules and enjoy learning in a non-disruptive atmosphere.

I do understand your reasoning overall. And I can see how it would work. I certainly use similar discipline with my son on many things, but not others. This teacher, however, seems to punish any infraction the same way.

And this doesn't seem to be working all that well for this little girl, does it?

 

[punkin]

I can't believe that everyone has just skipped over and ignored this quote.
I would be WAY more concerned about this behavior than I would having names on the board. Especially with a 'sensitive' child.

This is NOT appropriate behavior for a teacher of 5 year olds.

Yup. I noticed that. This woman needs more effective ways to control her class. There should not be consistent screaming or calling names in any classroom.

My DD7 (not sensitive at all) is in a class room where the teacher NEVER raises her voice. In fact, if children are misbehaving, she will lower her voice so that they have to starin to hear her and actually pay attention.

 

[jodifla]

Since you're still going the "management" route...

How many managers still have 20+ direct reports? Isn't the average class size way over 20 students?

If a manager does have 20+ direct reports, are you suggesting there is ONE way to handle all 20 of them? In a class room the teacher has little choice but to handle the daily issues with each student the same way.

I had 14 direct reports. I'm not suggesting 20-plus management styles, but I certainly tailor the motivation to the individual. That's probably a handful of different styles.

As an earlier poster pointed out, this teacher seems to have a lot of issues with her class.

 

[In a hurry]

I do understand your reasoning overall. And I can see how it would work. I certainly use similar discipline with my son on many things, but not others. This teacher, however, seems to punish any infraction the same way.

And this doesn't seem to be working all that well for this little girl, does it?

I guess you won't know if it works until you see whether the child breaks the rule again. Maybe, it worked incredibly well! The little girl seems to be fine this a.m., and not damaged psychologically one bit.

 

[BuckNaked]

And this doesn't seem to be working all that well for this little girl, does it?

How could you possibly know that it hasn't worked since the little girl hasn't even had another day yet to see? I would say that if she doesn't talk without raising her hand again, it most certainly has worked.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

Originally Posted by Wishing on a star
I can't believe that everyone has just skipped over and ignored this quote.
I would be WAY more concerned about this behavior than I would having names on the board. Especially with a 'sensitive' child.

This is NOT appropriate behavior for a teacher of 5 year olds.

Yup. I noticed that. This woman needs more effective ways to control her class. There should not be consistent screaming or calling names in any classroom.
.

No, I did not skip over that. But I also noticed that the OP said this policy of writing names on the board was just recently implemented. It sounds to me like she IS trying to find a better way to control the class --- better than yelling and screaming. I think that is a case of what teachers call "it doesn't matter what you do, some parents will gripe."

You know what would probably help her more than anything? Parents who supported her and used the opportunity of seeing their offsprings name on the board as a reason to discuss WHY it is important to follow the classroom rules rather than nitpicking and second guessing her classroom management policies. Parents who stress, I'm disappointed when I see that you have not been behaving today, I hope that tomorrow is a better day. (I don't mean that toward the OP in particular, just a general observation.)

 

[pooh4evr]

As a former elementary and middle school teacher I can tell you that there are more behavior punishment/reward systems than I can remember but they all -stoplights, sticks, names on the board, push pin charts ...- show who is following directions and who is not - more often than not the rest of the class knows who misbehaves and deserves the "punishment". If 5 is too young to start learning the rules then when 1st grade 2nd grade You have to start somewhere and kids need to know there are consequences to even the most basic infractions. This is a quick efective way to get the childs attention so the classes time is not (for lack of a better word) wasted dealing with one child's inability to follow the rules. (in general not directed to OP) Sure no one wants to see their child upset or hurting but if they did not follow the rules then they should pay the consequence.

 

[Christine]

Getting shamed in front of their peers and feeling hurt have been *the* most effective discipline methods for my kids. Having their names put on boards for all to see is enough to provoke guilt in my kids and they never do it again. I don't care about "broom handle kid"--nothing will work for him. But if this stops my kids from acting out of turn, then I welcome it. And of course they will come home and feel mortified. That's part of "consequences."

 

[amburger]

My elementary school did a similar thing except that when you were "bad" again you would get a check mark next to your name. If you got your name and two check marks behind your name you got a detention or whatever. So I think that system is probably a little bit better than that one. If you didn't raise your hand though, they wouldn't put your name on the board for that. More like talking to a friend during class when you're not supposed too. Basically anything you shouldn't be doing. Hitting someone with a broom handle would be more like automatically getting sent to the principals office then. No warnings for you. So that's strange. I hope your daughter feels better. Not raising your hand is a pretty lame reason for getting your name on the board.

 

[jodifla]

I guess you won't know if it works until you see whether the child breaks the rule again. Maybe, it worked incredibly well! The little girl seems to be fine this a.m., and not damaged psychologically one bit.

But all the kid did was speak before raising her hand! And she's 5, for goodness' sake.

Like previous poster said, it's a pretty lame reason for getting your name on the board.

 

[daisyduck123]

But all the kid did was speak before raising her hand! And she's 5, for goodness' sake.

Like previous poster said, it's a pretty lame reason for getting your name on the board.

5 years old is not too young for a child to learn to raise their hand & wait to be called upon. If it were too young, thousands of children around the country would not be doing it each day. And believe me, most of them can do it.

Any teacher can tell you that a lot more teaching can get done in a day if children raise their hands...rather than calling out & constantly interrupting.

Having your name on the board as a warning is a reminder to the child. It does work much of the time!!

 

[BuckNaked]

Like previous poster said, it's a pretty lame reason for getting your name on the board.

Easy to say, so long as you aren't the one with 20 5 year olds all talking at the same time without raising their hands.