Middle school whole class punishments

[Anonymous]

What is the deal with middle schools punishing the entire class (for example, all of 6th grade) for some kids having bad behavior. What does that teach anyone? That even if you behave you are judged solely by the actions of your peers???? The teachers are also quick to try to accuse students of being late or talking even when they are not. I wouldn't want to experience that day in and day out anywhere at school or at work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the deal with middle schools punishing the entire class (for example, all of 6th grade) for some kids having bad behavior. What does that teach anyone? That even if you behave you are judged solely by the actions of your peers???? The teachers are also quick to try to accuse students of being late or talking even when they are not. I wouldn't want to experience that day in and day out anywhere at school or at work.

Do you have specific examples of said "punishment" or can you name the middle school in question? Because this is a weird question. While there are school-wide rules of behavior or expectations, teachers don't have authority to impose consequences on an entire *grade* for kids talking during an individual class/being late to class.

[Anonymous]

Yep, they punish entire grade in the cafeteria by making them sit in assigned seats because of a few disruptive kids who are "talking to loud...at lunchtime"

[Anonymous]

Yes, it's unfortunate. They should be giving consequences to the disruptive kids, but they choose to punish the entire grade/class, instead.

Forced assigned seating at lunch is truly bizarre. Our MS never allows kids to sit with their friends. They're forced to stay with their class.

[Anonymous]

Middle school is just the worst.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, it's unfortunate. They should be giving consequences to the disruptive kids, but they choose to punish the entire grade/class, instead.

Forced assigned seating at lunch is truly bizarre. Our MS never allows kids to sit with their friends. They're forced to stay with their class.

What do you mean "they're forced to stay with their class"? Our MS doesn't have "classes" at lunch, kids just have lunch periods (i.e., you might have 5th period lunch, or 6th period, or whatever). There are no assigned seats that I know of. However, many schools allow kids to eat lunch in the media center or open classrooms rather than the cafeteria. There are clubs that meet over lunch were kids can bring their food. Maybe that's an option for kids who want to eat with their friends.

That said, no one should be getting in trouble for "talking" at lunch (if that is indeed what's happening) but if kids are being overly disruptive (throwing stuff etc) maybe it's easier to just assign seats to everyone. Often there isn't sufficient staff to ensure things don't get out of hand.

Have you addressed this concern with school administration? What has been the response? It would help if you identified the school in question. I've heard complaints from our kids about overly-strict cafeteria rules in ES, but not MS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, it's unfortunate. They should be giving consequences to the disruptive kids, but they choose to punish the entire grade/class, instead.

Forced assigned seating at lunch is truly bizarre. Our MS never allows kids to sit with their friends. They're forced to stay with their class.

What do you mean "they're forced to stay with their class"? Our MS doesn't have "classes" at lunch, kids just have lunch periods (i.e., you might have 5th period lunch, or 6th period, or whatever). There are no assigned seats that I know of. However, many schools allow kids to eat lunch in the media center or open classrooms rather than the cafeteria. There are clubs that meet over lunch were kids can bring their food. Maybe that's an option for kids who want to eat with their friends.

That said, no one should be getting in trouble for "talking" at lunch (if that is indeed what's happening) but if kids are being overly disruptive (throwing stuff etc) maybe it's easier to just assign seats to everyone. Often there isn't sufficient staff to ensure things don't get out of hand.

Have you addressed this concern with school administration? What has been the response? It would help if you identified the school in question. I've heard complaints from our kids about overly-strict cafeteria rules in ES, but not MS.

This is not uncommon. Kids in a grade being too loud so they make everyone sit with their homeroom.

[Anonymous]

It's a bit like the movie Full Metal Jacket. The barracks got punished for Pvt. Pyle's doughnut. Made sense as they are a team. Didn't seem to work out so well in the end.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, after kiddo experienced full class punishment in the cafeteria, kiddo bailed and never ate lunch in cafeteria again. In MS. And HS.

[Anonymous]

Email reads..." In response to recent inappropriate behaviors and in an effort to strengthen positive peer connections, we have made a few brief changes to our lunch protocol.
Students will now:
Sit with their homeroom classmates at assigned tables.
Be called by table to access lunch and snacks.
Refrain from using Chromebooks during lunch. Instead, we encourage students to bring simple tabletop games (Uno, Old Maid, cards, etc.) to promote direct engagement and positive interactions.
Go outside if time and weather permit, once their table area is cleared of trash and recyclables.
These changes are temporary, and we will monitor student conduct closely. Our goal is to restore free seating and Chromebook use once we see consistent positive behaviors."

So everyone is punished for whatever behavior occurred thst is not mentioned.

[Anonymous]

Well they need to get used to it. Millions are suffering for the choices of MAGA idiots. That's life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Email reads..." In response to recent inappropriate behaviors and in an effort to strengthen positive peer connections, we have made a few brief changes to our lunch protocol.
Students will now:
Sit with their homeroom classmates at assigned tables.
Be called by table to access lunch and snacks.
Refrain from using Chromebooks during lunch. Instead, we encourage students to bring simple tabletop games (Uno, Old Maid, cards, etc.) to promote direct engagement and positive interactions.
Go outside if time and weather permit, once their table area is cleared of trash and recyclables.
These changes are temporary, and we will monitor student conduct closely. Our goal is to restore free seating and Chromebook use once we see consistent positive behaviors."

So everyone is punished for whatever behavior occurred thst is not mentioned.

This says it is temporary. It is not a big deal.

[Anonymous]

Your child will survive. Please try to think big picture here. If your administration has determined assigned seats are necessary it’s because enough students were not following rules or directions. That is unsafe. Would you rather they ignore unsafe behaviors and put your child at risk?

[Anonymous]

Sounds like North Bethesda. Teaches the wrong lesson to the majority of kids who are well-behaved. That lesson being that being well-behaved doesn't matter, one kid will spoil it for everyone else.

[Anonymous]

At one middle school they had one class (not the entire grade) of students write an apology letter to a substitute teacher. Not ALL the students were misbehaving. Yet all the students in the class had to write the letter. Admin knows some students' behavior but what did they do? Students supposedly go to office. Then what? Get sent back to the class? What are the counselors doing?? They don't come to the class. SO F cking SICK of it.