Is it normal for a teacher to punish the whole class for one child's misbehavior?

[Anonymous]

It's deeply frustrating for the kids that do behave as then there's no reason to behave since they are treated the same as those that act up.

[Anonymous]

Normal in the sense that it, unfortunately, occurs very often, but definitely not best practice. Might also be against school policy. Could you follow up with the principal and/or assistant principal? It seems like they want the class to “earn” a reward through good behavior where the good kids can kind of “carry” the kids who have problems, vs. having something taken away.

[Anonymous]

It happens, but I think that what you're talking about is a little extreme. I would complain, even though I hate being *that* parent. Sometimes kids in elementary school start at 9 and then have lunch at 10:30, and so taking away snack time as a punishment seems borderline cruel. Hands-on science activities aren't supposed to be a privilege, they are supposed to be learning opportunities. Same goes for reading buddies.

[Anonymous]

The sad fact is it can be extremely hard to control some kids. And if parents and the principal are no help, what is the teacher supposed to do?

I've seen great teachers brought to their knees (figuratively) by a child who simply will not behave, parents don't believe their is a problem, and the principal feels their hands are tied.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It happens, but I think that what you're talking about is a little extreme. I would complain, even though I hate being *that* parent. Sometimes kids in elementary school start at 9 and then have lunch at 10:30, and so taking away snack time as a punishment seems borderline cruel. Hands-on science activities aren't supposed to be a privilege, they are supposed to be learning opportunities. Same goes for reading buddies.

If the kids cannot be safe during the science activity, it won’t happen. They can observe me doing it. Snack time and reading buddies are optional, not required. If we don’t have time or there is an issue, they can be canceled per the teacher’s discretion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It happens, but I think that what you're talking about is a little extreme. I would complain, even though I hate being *that* parent. Sometimes kids in elementary school start at 9 and then have lunch at 10:30, and so taking away snack time as a punishment seems borderline cruel. Hands-on science activities aren't supposed to be a privilege, they are supposed to be learning opportunities. Same goes for reading buddies.

This. I think it can be effective because it creates peer pressure for the misbehaving kids to act better, rather than a class clown being applauded. But the "collective punishments" are usually much more minor rewards that are being taken away, not snack time etc as OP is mentioning. It's being used in too extreme a way.

[Anonymous]

Yes, it's been happening in my 5th grade daughter's class all year and the kids hate it. They've lost part of their recess time multiple times, lost lunch time and other things like that all year. The teacher is new to our school this year and it's just been really hard as she's extremely strict on the kids.

If you're still landing hard on the whole class every day at this point in the year, something is really wrong with how you're approaching discipline.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, it's been happening in my 5th grade daughter's class all year and the kids hate it. They've lost part of their recess time multiple times, lost lunch time and other things like that all year. The teacher is new to our school this year and it's just been really hard as she's extremely strict on the kids.

If you're still landing hard on the whole class every day at this point in the year, something is really wrong with how you're approaching discipline.

Or the teacher is outnumbered by students who don’t respect authority.

I’m a very good teacher with strong classroom management. I have a ton of tricks at my disposal, and I know how to handle challenging classroom situations.

Still, I had a class of 28 high schoolers a couple of years ago that got the best of me. I had 12-14 extremely disruptive students and I had little support from the school. I tried everything: contacting parents, making connections with students, individual conferences, behavior plans, seat changes, different classroom configurations, curriculum alterations, etc. I did everything right, and I still could not get that class to function at the level I’m used to.

Teachers are handling off-the-chart behaviors now. It isn’t what we experienced ourselves as students.

[Anonymous]

It’s not okay at all and the district has behavioral specialists that can be called in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s not okay at all and the district has behavioral specialists that can be called in.

Those behavioral specialists aren’t on staff to handle overly talkative, mildly disruptive, and/or “constantly out of their chair” kids. They are on staff to handle violent outbursts/reactions - for IEP behavior plans and data collection.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Public school. Teacher in 2nd and 3rd did this. They don't know how to manage classroom behaviors and the Principals are no help because they don't know what to do either.

Maybe she has too many out of control behaviors-you sound super ignorant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, it's been happening in my 5th grade daughter's class all year and the kids hate it. They've lost part of their recess time multiple times, lost lunch time and other things like that all year. The teacher is new to our school this year and it's just been really hard as she's extremely strict on the kids.

If you're still landing hard on the whole class every day at this point in the year, something is really wrong with how you're approaching discipline.

Or the teacher is outnumbered by students who don’t respect authority.

I’m a very good teacher with strong classroom management. I have a ton of tricks at my disposal, and I know how to handle challenging classroom situations.

Still, I had a class of 28 high schoolers a couple of years ago that got the best of me. I had 12-14 extremely disruptive students and I had little support from the school. I tried everything: contacting parents, making connections with students, individual conferences, behavior plans, seat changes, different classroom configurations, curriculum alterations, etc. I did everything right, and I still could not get that class to function at the level I’m used to.

Teachers are handling off-the-chart behaviors now. It isn’t what we experienced ourselves as students.

This and teachers are leaving...high numbers don't fool yourself it's happening right here in FCPS. Teachers are done. They don't get paid enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's deeply frustrating for the kids that do behave as then there's no reason to behave since they are treated the same as those that act up.

Oh well....guess you should start talking to those parents because teachers have exhausted all avenues in classes like these.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Collective punishment is improper discipline. Its actually also against the Geneva convention.
https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/ihl-treaties/gciv-1949/article-33

OMG. DCUm has officially jumped the shark

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, it's been happening in my 5th grade daughter's class all year and the kids hate it. They've lost part of their recess time multiple times, lost lunch time and other things like that all year. The teacher is new to our school this year and it's just been really hard as she's extremely strict on the kids.

If you're still landing hard on the whole class every day at this point in the year, something is really wrong with how you're approaching discipline.

Or the teacher is outnumbered by students who don’t respect authority.

I’m a very good teacher with strong classroom management. I have a ton of tricks at my disposal, and I know how to handle challenging classroom situations.

Still, I had a class of 28 high schoolers a couple of years ago that got the best of me. I had 12-14 extremely disruptive students and I had little support from the school. I tried everything: contacting parents, making connections with students, individual conferences, behavior plans, seat changes, different classroom configurations, curriculum alterations, etc. I did everything right, and I still could not get that class to function at the level I’m used to.

Teachers are handling off-the-chart behaviors now. It isn’t what we experienced ourselves as students.

+1
It happens at the elementary level too.