A Word on No Tolerance Policies

...allow me to step on my soapbox...
How? ... Just how are no tolerance policies teaching anything usefull to our kids?

Ooooh!  Little Johnny drew a picture of a gun!  Our policy guide says we have to suspend him for 3 days - maybe even expell him.  O - M - G!  Holy crap, people!  It's high time you shred that policy guide, burn the shreds, and throw what's left in the garbage!  Then here's an idea.  Go find that spine that you used to have, you know the one, it's the one that you itch to use every time a situation like this comes up but don't because you don't want to make waves.  Find it, use it to tell the school board that, "Hey, this feels good.  I can make up my own mind on how discipline little Johnny!  I don't need your help with this one.  Thanks, but no thanks!"

Then, instead of telling Johnny what a bad thing he's done, why not try telling him how great the drawing is?  Encourage him to keep drawing!  Give him ideas for other things he might like to draw!  The conversation could go something like this.  "Hey, Johnny.  That is an awesome drawing of a gun.  You're really good.  You should try drawing other cool stuff, like big ships or horses, maybe airplanes!  But you know what.  You shouldn't be drawing when I'm teaching Geography.  Next time, wait for free time or Art, ok?"

Then, when little Johnny draws while your teaching something other than art, make him stand up next to his desk or in the back of class.  Facing you so he can pay attention to what's being taught!  If Johnny's parents have a problem with your approach, politely tell them that they are welcome to home school their little munchkin because we expect well behaved students in our school.

I guarantee you that Johnny's parents will have a problem with your - other - spineless approach.  Stop hiding behind your stupid little manuals and start using your brain to make your own decisions!

What is it about Common Sense that makes it so un-common these days?

[Lack of] Education?

I think that certainly has something to do with it.  Our system of teaching to the lowest common denominator is definitely hurting.  We can't group the gifted students together because it might hurt the self esteem of the other students?!?  Wow!  Wouldn't Common Sense dictate that grouping gifted students together might actually make them even more gifted?  Wouldn't they then be able to feed off of each others strengths?  We'd be in a position to teach them more because they're able to learn at a faster pace.  When did this become a bad thing?  They would also require less supervision, allowing more resources to help the slower paced learners.  Isn't that what we want?  Don't we want to give the slower learners more attention so they have a chance to catch up?  Some would say "no, they would feel bad because they're in the 'slow' group."  Bah!  As my daughter would say, "blah, blah, blah."  Doesn't that mean that they would feel better about themselves if they managed to climb out of the slow group and into the regular group?  Who can deny that?  THAT's where self-esteem comes from!  Achievement!  REAL achievement.  It's earned, not given!

One of my daughters, in her third grade class, came home one day and told me that she was the "student of the week!"  "Wow," I said.  "Nicely done!  How did you do that?"  "My name was picked from a hat," was her reply.  I kid you not.  "So how does it feel being student of the week?," I asked.  "Mmm, it's ok, I guess."  So, I can only guess they were trying to teach my daughter that playing the lottery was the way to succeed in life!  Unbelievable.  Did this really make her feel good?  Was her self esteem uplifted?  Really?

Changes in Authority Figures?

Putting on my "Old Fart" hat...  When I was growing up, kids had a healthy respect - even a little fear (yes, fear) - of authority.  When did this become a bad thing?  By the way, for you younger people; authority = all adults, period!  If you were a police officer, school principal, judge, or teacher, that just meant you had more authority and got more respect!  There was a price to pay for misbehaving.  Nowadays, kids in school can misbehave all they want without worrying about consequences.  School administrations are afraid to apply any real discipline to bad kids.  And when they do, they hide behind their rediculous "no tolerance" policies (see above).

Yes, I said "bad" kids.  You got a problem with that?  Tough!  If its your kids that are talking back to teachers and/or principals, talking or texting on cell phones during class (cell phones - that's a whole nuther topic!), or otherwise disrupting activities in school - and you get angry with the school for disciplining them, then you are part of the problem!  "But my kid is a good kid, this was just an honest mistake."  Nope, I'm calling bull-poop on that one.  Your kid made a bad decision and needs to pay a penalty so they won't make the same mistake again!  If there isn't a penalty, then the only lesson learned is that they can do what ever they want.  Be a good parent, show your kids right from wrong!