Today was a very unusual day. I didn't check the sky. Is there a full moon? Did you know the moon has an affect on student behavior? I had several discipline problems to handle today. One involved a child "supposedly" exposing himself to some students. This incident happened yesterday as the child exited the bus. The 2nd incident happened during the school day and it involved one boy shoving another boy. I'll start with the little boy who according to the teacher's note, "exposed himself" at a bus stop. I talked with the little girl who told the teacher about the incident. I asked her to tell me everything she saw. I also told her to make sure she took her time told the truth because I was going to check the "camera" on the bus and the "camera" at the bus stop. The camera would verify what she said. This little girl is in the 3rd grade. This was her statement: Little Johnny Doe got off the bus and went behind a bush and "peed".
My response: How did you know what he was doing?
Her response: She could see the "water" hitting the ground.
My response: How was Johnny Doe standing?
Her response: He was standing with his back to me.
My response: Could you see his backpack or face.
Her response: I could only see his backpack.
At that point I thanked the little girl for being honest and I sent her back to class.
Next: I asked to see Johnny Doe
My question to him after giving him the same story about the camera seeing all. Tell me what happened when you got off of the bus yesterday.
His response: I got off the bus and had to "go", so I went behind a bush.
I do this all the time.
My response: Why don't you wait until you get home?
His response: I have to walk a few blocks and I won't make it, so I do it before I start my walk.
My response: Some students on the bus saw you yesterday? That's not a good thing to do.
His response: No, I didn't know they saw me. I'm sorry. I had to go bad.
My response: Why don't you go to the bathroom before you get on the bus?
His response: We go to our "specials". From specials, we get on the bus and there is no time
I told him that it is not OK for him to use the bathroom at the bus stops, so that will have to stop. I also talked with his teacher about the situation. He did not expose himself, but went behind a bush to urinate. The teacher added "expose" to the paper. She did not investigate. Little Johnny promised he would not use the bus stops as a bathroom stop. The teacher promised she would make sure he went to the bathroom before going to specials. She would also call the little girl's mom and with an explanation. Little Johnny promised not to drink any water after using the bathroom.
The next incident involved 3 boys, but only 2 boys were reported by the teacher. This is what I found out through my investigations:
The teacher was at the FRONT of the line and the class was following her. She just happened to look back and saw Billy Bob shove Tony Tiger. Of course Tony shoved back and a fight started. I talked with each child. After telling them about the "camera" in the hall, both boys told the truth. A THIRD CHILD slapped Tony. Tony ignored that until Billy played the instigator by teasing Tony saying: "Dangggg, I know that hurt. Let me see if I can do that to you" Billy then slapped Tony". Tony did not ignore Billy. Just as the teacher was turning, she saw Billy shove Tony.
First, I feel a teacher should never walk in the front of the line. She can not see what is going on with her class. She also called and talked to both parents before investigating. She told Billy's mom he started the fight. She told Tony's mom Tony did not start the fight. I was not aware she had made these calls. When I call to talk with the mother, she's telling me her son did not start the fight. I had the tacher to come to the phone and explain the situation. I also talked with the THIRD child who was never called to the office. I found out he had been bullying Tony because Tony doesn't fight back. Tony said he didn't want to report the THIRD child because he wanted to be his friend. I can't suspend a child, but the AP called the parents in and talked with them with the boys present. No one was suspended. I asked the AP why she did not suspend teh boys. She said it would have been a "reward" for them to stay home. She said there would be other consequences but she did not say what. When I was a classroom teacher, we had a hands-off zero tolerance policy. If you fought, you went home. My concern is the 3 boys are "ambassadors" and all the students know they have problems, but nothing is done for making bad choices. My question to you: What would you have done as an AP or Principal?
Dear Joyce,
ReplyDeleteSince making the leap from teacher to AP, I have also been handling several investigations. Some have been similar to the one you just mentioned. I am finding that things are done quite differently on the elementary level. As a high school teacher, all three boys would've been suspended, but they tend to go a little easier in elementary school. Consequences are things such as phone calls to parents, warnings, and strong verbal reprimands, but I have not seen very many suspensions. I think there is some "unspoken" order not to suspend as much at the lower levels, so as not to damage their little fragile egos, but I also suspect the higher ups do not want to "piss off" the parents. What you described in the second incident certainly warranted suspension (in my opinion) but perhaps school psychologists know something that we don't know. I think that if Johnny doesn't learn to keep his hands to himslef at the lower, he will have this same trouble in the middle and upper levels, and even later on in life. But we seem too concerned with damaging thier egos and reputations and making their parents angry than to do what's right. That prinicpal knows darn well that she is not going to follow through with any "other" consequences. The sad part is that little Johnny knows it too. He just got away with hitting, slapping, shoving, and instigating a fight. What will they think of next? Will wonders ever cease?
Joyce I agree with the AP with the statement that a child can not learn if they are at home. But when a fight has taken place some sort of consequence has to be given to let the children know that fighting is not tolerated. Some children want to be at home where they can do nothing all day. In a case like that some sort of an in school suspension should taken place.
ReplyDeleteJoyce,
ReplyDeleteIt seems that you are experiencing a lot of the issues I see at my school. The situations you mentioned could have been handled without being reported to you. The first little boy did not expose himself, so you could not suspend him for going to the bathroom. Using the restroom outside is not acceptable but he did not do it where others could see his private. You did what I would have done, talked with the boy and the teacher. I would have also made his parents aware of his choice of bathroom locations. His parents may think it is okay for him to do that but making them aware that it should not be done in the presence of others would help the situation. Teachers tend to not allow students to go to the bathroom towards the end of the day. I can see how it was difficult for him to hold it. I have a difficult time holding my water too and there are just some times in which I just have to drop everything and go. I would not choose to use the outdoors as an option but when you gotta go you gotta go. Now that the teacher is aware of what is happening she can be sure to give time for a restroom break before boarding the bus. Some of my teachers only allow students to go to the bathroom twice a day. In my opinion if a child needs the restroom he/she should be allowed to go. I would much rather err on the side of caution than to have to call a parent and tell them that their child wet their pants because he wasn't allowed access to the bathroom. In regards to the other situation, that could have been avoided had the teacher took the rear of the line. She would have been able to see what was going on. There is no tolerance for fighting but sending them home would not have helped the situation. In-school suspension would have been better for them. You don't want to set the stage that will make students want to get suspended. We know that for many students suspension is not a punishment. They sit at home and watch television, play their games or just sleep the time away. Parents are probably at work so there is no supervision or accountability for their actions. There are other ways that could teach a lesson better than suspension. I would like to think that in place of suspension the AP did something to hold the students accountable, perhaps afterschool detention. My teachers are strong advocates for suspension, but I question their reasoning. Is it because they want to rid themselves of behavior problems? A lot of issues could be handled with proper classroom management by the teacher. Teachers control the conditions of the classroom. If they have not established a learning environment where fighting isn't tolerated then you will have fights and other issues. I am all for supporting teachers but I expect the teachers to have a discipline plan in place to handle a lot of issues I see. Fighting should not be tolerated, but if teachers are on top of their job they can intervene before it gets to a fight. I have had a lot of situations like yours over the past week. One teacher sent a student to the office stating that the student was hitting another student. Well, we were going to suspend the student but after further investigating the student were not fist fight or punching his classmate; he took the eraser end of his pencil and was tapping the student on the arm. This teacher has a self-contained behavioral class. Every little thing her students do her discipline plan is to send them to the office. Their behavior is why they are self-contained. Their IEP states that they have these particular behaviors, so why are they constantly sent to the office. This is an everyday occurrence. So, that is why I say that teachers need to be more accountable for how they handle their classrooms. Once they send students to the office they have already lost control of their ability to handle their class.
This is a tough situation. I understand the need to go easy on elementary school students. However, the child which is bully need to have some serious consequences for his action. Hopefully your AP will make all the students have some counseling with guidance especially the one who is doing the bullying. The victim also needs to know that such treatment should not be tolerated and be reported to the school staff. For as we all know it will only escalate.
ReplyDeleteThe bus cameras can be a life saver. It is a comfort to know that there is a back-up to check for reported incidents using bus and/or hall cameras.
ReplyDeleteLast week I had a parent call to say that their child was being bullied on the bus. Although I didn't want to discredit the report, I had considered for a moment how the word "bullying" is fast becomming a buzz word. My initial feeling was that her term "bullying" may have been an exaggeration due to the fact that the term has become "over used" as of late.
Despite my initial reaction, I viewed the bus tape without any preconceived notions. I was SHOCKED at what I saw. Indeed, it was a full-blown case of bullying! Two boys 2 years older than another had repeatedly taken the smaller child's book bag, lunch box, and Yu-Gi-OH! cards. They were taunting him, playing keep-away with his things, and calling him names when he desparately treid to get his things back. This was not only the case for the day in question, but also appeared on tapes from previous days.
Since our county has a zero toleraance for bullying, I was able to immediately suspend the students from the bus without regard to prior offenses.
Without the bus security tape, it may not have as easy to determine whether this was a case of bullying or just misconduct.
I was quite thankful that our county has installed cameras on all buses, as I am sure you were with your situation.
I'd be curious to hear how other counties that don't have cameras on the buses deal with similar situations. If you can weigh in on this, please do!
Joyce, I agree with you in that the consequences for fighting should be suspension. However I understand what your AP said about suspension being a reward for the boys. There should still have been some type of consequence. The boys could be required to attend detention during recess time or after school. Without any consequences, these young men may not understand that fighting in school is unacceptable. Also since there were no consequences, the young man who's bullying Tony will probably continue to bully others. I know it may be in appropriate to question your AP, but I really feel all boys should have gone to detention and the bully should have also been sent for a few sessions with the guidance.
ReplyDeleteJoyce, I would agree with the consequence rendered by the AP. Although suspensions may be viewed as a reward there are board policies that must be enforced. Since you have a professional obligation to serve a great number of children, being able to view the greater good is always the best policy. Children that bully and harass other students must be clearly examined and investigated, but you what I have found to be the best way to determine what the underlined factor is getting to know your students and observing their behaviors and actions.
ReplyDelete