Do discipline referrals mean anything anymore?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Carson Middle School is known for giving kids referrals for just about everything—sometimes it feels like even breathing too loudly. My 8th grader received another referral today. Last week, he got one for having too many tarries across all his classes—this was his fourth combined tardy this quarter.
He’s also had referrals for having his cell phone out, a few for “interfering with learning” in the classroom, and one for shoving while playing around with a friend. I’m not saying he’s perfect, but it honestly doesn’t feel like the school truly cares about addressing behavior in a meaningful way. He’s had ISS a few times and been removed from class, but nothing major like a suspension. At this point, I’m just questioning whether discipline referrals actually mean anything or help change behavior, because from a parent’s perspective, it doesn’t seem like they do.
When my son was in elementary , he only received one referral in 6th grade and hardly any before that. This year alone, he’s received more referrals than all his previous years combined. It honestly feels like schools are quick to write kids up now, often for minor issues rather than addressing behavior in a productive way. We’re starting to wonder if discipline referrals are being overused instead of actually helping students succeed. Is anyone else dealing with the same issue at their school?

What are you doing at home when he gets these referrals?

Using phone at school should be loss of the phone for a week for the first time and add a week for every infraction.

Four tardies in one quarter, not the semester but a quarter, would be loss of video game time or some other desired privilege for a week, with the time adding up for each additional tardy.

Shoving at school, would be loss of privileges.

You are supposed to be reinforcing that the behavior is not acceptable. If that means you need to work with his doctors to adjust his medications, then do that. If that means discipling at home so that he understands that you agree with the school that his behavior is not acceptable.

+1

[Anonymous]

As a teacher I am not at all surprised by OP’s shirking post absolving herself of all responsibility here but I am pleasantly surprised at the other parents holding her accountable for not parenting her son.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Carson Middle School is known for giving kids referrals for just about everything—sometimes it feels like even breathing too loudly. My 8th grader received another referral today. Last week, he got one for having too many tarries across all his classes—this was his fourth combined tardy this quarter.
He’s also had referrals for having his cell phone out, a few for “interfering with learning” in the classroom, and one for shoving while playing around with a friend. I’m not saying he’s perfect, but it honestly doesn’t feel like the school truly cares about addressing behavior in a meaningful way. He’s had ISS a few times and been removed from class, but nothing major like a suspension. At this point, I’m just questioning whether discipline referrals actually mean anything or help change behavior, because from a parent’s perspective, it doesn’t seem like they do.
When my son was in elementary , he only received one referral in 6th grade and hardly any before that. This year alone, he’s received more referrals than all his previous years combined. It honestly feels like schools are quick to write kids up now, often for minor issues rather than addressing behavior in a productive way. We’re starting to wonder if discipline referrals are being overused instead of actually helping students succeed. Is anyone else dealing with the same issue at their school?

A child should be receiving zero referrals in elementary school. It has to be *bad* for Elementary school to accept or even submit referrals. Getting accepted referrals is a big deal.

And those middle school referrals sound completely appropriate. For "impeding the learning environment", it takes a student doing the same thing after being asked at least 3 times to stop before a referral is submitted. In actuality, it's many more times.

Most students exit middle school with zero referrals.

Please parent your child.

Signed,
A Middle School Teacher (who is also a FCPS parent)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Carson Middle School is known for giving kids referrals for just about everything—sometimes it feels like even breathing too loudly. My 8th grader received another referral today. Last week, he got one for having too many tarries across all his classes—this was his fourth combined tardy this quarter.
He’s also had referrals for having his cell phone out, a few for “interfering with learning” in the classroom, and one for shoving while playing around with a friend. I’m not saying he’s perfect, but it honestly doesn’t feel like the school truly cares about addressing behavior in a meaningful way. He’s had ISS a few times and been removed from class, but nothing major like a suspension. At this point, I’m just questioning whether discipline referrals actually mean anything or help change behavior, because from a parent’s perspective, it doesn’t seem like they do.
When my son was in elementary , he only received one referral in 6th grade and hardly any before that. This year alone, he’s received more referrals than all his previous years combined. It honestly feels like schools are quick to write kids up now, often for minor issues rather than addressing behavior in a productive way. We’re starting to wonder if discipline referrals are being overused instead of actually helping students succeed. Is anyone else dealing with the same issue at their school?

A child should be receiving zero referrals in elementary school. It has to be *bad* for Elementary school to accept or even submit referrals. Getting accepted referrals is a big deal.

And those middle school referrals sound completely appropriate. For "impeding the learning environment", it takes a student doing the same thing after being asked at least 3 times to stop before a referral is submitted. In actuality, it's many more times.

Most students exit middle school with zero referrals.

Please parent your child.

Signed,
A Middle School Teacher (who is also a FCPS parent)

PP - ISS is suspension. It takes A LOT for a student to get out of school suspension.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher I am not at all surprised by OP’s shirking post absolving herself of all responsibility here but I am pleasantly surprised at the other parents holding her accountable for not parenting her son.

+1 from another FCPS teacher and parent of teens