Continuing misadventures in subbing or what kind of a lame punishment is this?
By writersedge
@writersedge (22563)
United States
December 13, 2008 6:11am CST
A student gets into trouble and a level one punishment is in school detention: lunch. That means, they eat lunch separately and should be quiet. Although there is no way to force them to be quiet. Let's review regular lunch where I am. Loud, 50 to 125 students who I bet could rival the decebels (spelling?) of a vacuum cleaner, on a good day, versus eating with a teacher in a room that is quiet. There are teachers that use that as a reward, three students asked if they could eat with me the other day. So don't you think that is not a very good punishment? I'd be getting into trouble every day to eat in peace and quiet.
What do you think should be a minor punishment for a minor offense? What would you consider to be a minor offense? I don't think taking off and not telling your teacher where you're going should be considered a minor offense, do you? What if something happens to the student? What if a fire breaks out and I don't know where s/he is? What if the person leaves the school and ends up in a car accident or abducted (spelling)? Level one is left class, but found in the building doing nothing terrible (like going to the bathroom, getting a drink from a water fountain, at the school store talking, etc.).
4 people like this
5 responses
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
13 Dec 08
I looked at my sons student handbook. They didn't have one for leaving class, so I looked for the most minor disciplinary action they take. And that was a 1/2 to one hour detention before or after school. Of course for really minor ones like talking during class, teachers have a green/yellow/red card system..Green means you are good, yellow is a warning and red is you are in trouble..My son had gotten 2 yellow cards this year, can't remember the first one, but the second one was for talking during a test.
I think you are correct, I being quiet, would rather eat with the teacher, but unfortunately I also was shy and it would take courage for me to do something to get into trouble..
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
14 Dec 08
I bet you can guess that I seldom ever had a problem with being shy. Short period of time when I was a teen and hyper-concious about my weight, but I got over it.
@brucekaushik (891)
• India
13 Dec 08
you are right sometimes punishments can turn to rewards .. 
i had them many myself when i was in school days ..
but for very small children these things may seem like punishments.
i had them many myself when i was in school days ..
but for very small children these things may seem like punishments.2 people like this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
13 Dec 08
This was the High School. Three students just took off on me, I reported it and that's what they got: Inschool suspension:lunch. They're not little, all three were taller than me. It just seems ridiculous. I was told by various people, young people and other employees, "They do that all the time." So wouldn't you go to Level 2 or 3 punishment for repeat infractions? When kids come back and tell you or you overhear them say they don't care, isn't it time to re-evaluate the punishments?
1 person likes this
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
23 Dec 08
I found something very effective when raising our three girls. It was learned by one of our kids in preschool. Making a student stand with their nose on the wall is very embarrassing. Even at the junior high level. It doesn't hurt, it's not a painful experience and can be terribly humiliating. I did this at home when one of the girls was really misbehaving. They hated it. It also teaches the student to be quiet and hopefully think about what they have done. Leaving to get to the bathroom shouldn't be an issue but also understand the school's rules. Leaving the building should be punishable since anything can happen.
I didn't abuse our children. They are very reliable, honest, secure and successful adults. So my idea of making them stand with their nose on the wall did not harm them in any fashion. Is this something you might want to suggest to the school?
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
24 Dec 08
Times have changed and this is a public school. Half the kids would tell me to go do that myself and most of the other half would tell me to go F myself. Besides, the handbook clearly states the punishments the school allows and uses only. We used to do similar in my school only people just faced the corner. In little kids school, some places use "time out." Not sure what the handbook for the little kids schools say, but most classrooms take away minutes of play time. I think the punishments for little kids is more effective than for the big ones. Thanks and take care.
@GardenGerty (169585)
• United States
13 Dec 08
You are right, that is not a punishment. Eating in a place where there is no one, not even a teacher, would be punishment. Reading about and writing a report on an abducted child might be a punishment. Having to be last to everything for a week, might be punishment.
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
14 Dec 08
The report about an abducted child, esp. one that was always missing from class, that might hit home. Thanks for your response, all of those sound better than what they have.
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
14 Dec 08
Taking off from school without telling the teacher is not a minor infraction. If that keeps up, then that student has no intention of studying. I would keep the detention time separate from lunch. I mean get them to write one hundred times, "I will not skip school" would make them remember, and not allowing them to go on field days would be equally effective if it is particularly for something that they want to see.
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
15 Dec 08
Due to kids getting carpal tunnel from all the computer usage now-a-days, writing anything one hundred times doesn't go over like it used to. But I agree with all your points. I don't think skipping is minor either. What is something happened? The parents would be the first to sue the school and me, too.
