Policy Questions

[Ari S. Yares]

We are in the process of evaluating a variety of policies as we plan for the upcoming school year. In particular, we are interested in the following areas:

Student discipline - How do you communicate with parents about discipline decisions from teachers/administrators? Do you use detentions? Who assigns them (teachers vs. admin)?

Lateness to school/absenteeism - What strategies do you use to promote on-time attendance? What are the consequences for consistent lateness or absences from school?

Preparedness for class - How do you handle students who are occassionally vs. frequently unprepared for class (HW, supplies, etc.)?

We are also in the process of revisiting our Student Handbook and would love to see copies from other schools.

Thank you,

Ari

[Joe Isola]

Hi Ari,
When it comes to communicating discipline decisions our Deans will handle detentions and Saturday detentions. For more severe consequences - suspensions and probationary period I will call the parent. The appropriate Dean may have called the parent to say that I will be calling to discuss the consequence.
A classroom teacher or a Dean can assign a detention but the Dean handles the paperwork and will tell the student that the detention has been issued. This allows the Deans the time to speak with the teacher regarding the situation.

For habitual lateness to school we will issue the student a detention, sometimes a Saturday detention to get his or her attention. Many times the parent will take the blame but the detention gets everyone's attention fast enough.

If a student is frequently unprepared for class, first we will contact the parent to let them know about the problem. Next we will mention in on the student's report card (we use a check list and narrative. Being prepared for class is an item on the check list) and this can effect the student's grade.

I hope this helps.

[David Fisher]

Ari:
At Collegiate in NY we rely mostly on counseling for discipline, with occasional detentions on Friday afternoons for minor offenses. Repeated minor offenses will result in the parents being called in, and ultimately in suspension. We distinguish between behavioral and academic infractions. Being unprepared and late with work will be reflected in the grade. Cheating is an exception, for which suspension is a pretty automatic consequence. Fighting also warrants an automatic suspension. As with Joe's reply. The grade Dean handles most of it. Communication with the parents is the key form of discipline.
David Fisher

[Ed Cluett]

One thing we do to combat lateness (though I am in a public school) is a lockout policy.  Once the bell rings, we close the door and lock it, and students must go to a central location staffed by security and assistant principals to get a pass.  For every student, the number of times they are late is tallied up, and with enough tardies, students can be suspended from school.

That being said, I work in the inner city, so we have to be way harder on discipline than when I subbed in private schools.  That's part of the reason I'm trying to get back there as a full-time teacher.