Punishing the entire class for the poor behavior of a few

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised people are not screaming about this. Punishing my child would violate his IEP and I suspect he is not alone.

Your child's IEP prohibits punishment? Always?

I really hope that was a misstatement.

If not, heaven help our poor teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised people are not screaming about this. Punishing my child would violate his IEP and I suspect he is not alone.

Your child's IEP prohibits punishment? Always?

Not always but allows it only under very limited circumstances, which require a minimum of about a day and a half to meet the criteria. FWIW, my son does not have behavior problems so it's not like it's a problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised people are not screaming about this. Punishing my child would violate his IEP and I suspect he is not alone.

Your child's IEP prohibits punishment? Always?

Not always but allows it only under very limited circumstances, which require a minimum of about a day and a half to meet the criteria. FWIW, my son does not have behavior problems so it's not like it's a problem.

I am sorry but that is insane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised people are not screaming about this. Punishing my child would violate his IEP and I suspect he is not alone.

Your child's IEP prohibits punishment? Always?

Not always but allows it only under very limited circumstances, which require a minimum of about a day and a half to meet the criteria. FWIW, my son does not have behavior problems so it's not like it's a problem.

I am sorry but that is insane.

No, it's really not. No every peg fits into the little round hole. Sometimes kids have different needs and the school is obligated to accommodate them. Fortunately, over the five years that this has been in the IEP, this has never been a problem. So, it must not be very hard to implement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised people are not screaming about this. Punishing my child would violate his IEP and I suspect he is not alone.

Your child's IEP prohibits punishment? Always?

Not always but allows it only under very limited circumstances, which require a minimum of about a day and a half to meet the criteria. FWIW, my son does not have behavior problems so it's not like it's a problem.

I am sorry but that is insane.

No, it's really not. No every peg fits into the little round hole. Sometimes kids have different needs and the school is obligated to accommodate them. Fortunately, over the five years that this has been in the IEP, this has never been a problem. So, it must not be very hard to implement.

If he doesn't have behavior problems why did you need a specific clause about punishments in his IEP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this the new norm or has my child just been unlucky with his classes?

I do not understand it. A few kids misbehave but the entire class stays inside during recess or is otherwise punished (elementary school). How can one child be expected to control the behavior of other children and why should they be held accountable for other kid's misbehavior?

I think this would lead to bullying. If a few kids disrupt the whole class, then send those few kids out to the principal.

Or is this how it is done and we deal with the consequences later in high school with bullying and I need to accept it as a part of school?

I ask this honestly (new to school system as a parent and it wasn't done this way when I was a kid), so please don't tear me apart.

Thanks!

Yes, it is the new normal. The collective is more important than the individual and to single someone out, for good reason or bad, is considered wrong.

[Anonymous]

Recess is not supposed to be used as a reward or a punishment.....that is the policy at our school and I believe is FCPS policy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS comes home complaining that his teacher does this all the time. He's in 6th grade and the teacher is awful--for a number of reasons. He says there are 2 or 3 kids who act up a lot and she constantly threatens the entire class with in-school suspension. Do they even have that?

He's a good kid, toes the line, etc. and these threats freak him out. I told him not to worry about it. But seriously, sounds like she just can't control her class. She's new this year and hoping she doesn't return. The other parents I know share similar concerns and we are trying to meet with principal to discuss--something I've never felt compelled to do before.

Don't be surprised when the principal backs the teacher.

[Anonymous]

I remember this happening when I was in school (late 80s/early 90s)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised people are not screaming about this. Punishing my child would violate his IEP and I suspect he is not alone.

Your child's IEP prohibits punishment? Always?

Not always but allows it only under very limited circumstances, which require a minimum of about a day and a half to meet the criteria. FWIW, my son does not have behavior problems so it's not like it's a problem.

What does that mean?

[Anonymous]

I remember this happening when I was in school (late 80s/early 90s)

Me too, but late 70s.

The IEP poster was being sarcastic, right?

[Anonymous]

Talk to the teacher and/or principal. This should not be happening. As it is, recess is only 20 minutes or so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this the new norm or has my child just been unlucky with his classes?

I do not understand it. A few kids misbehave but the entire class stays inside during recess or is otherwise punished (elementary school). How can one child be expected to control the behavior of other children and why should they be held accountable for other kid's misbehavior?

I think this would lead to bullying. If a few kids disrupt the whole class, then send those few kids out to the principal.

Or is this how it is done and we deal with the consequences later in high school with bullying and I need to accept it as a part of school?

I ask this honestly (new to school system as a parent and it wasn't done this way when I was a kid), so please don't tear me apart.

Thanks!

Yes, it is the new normal. The collective is more important than the individual and to single someone out, for good reason or bad, is considered wrong.

Saw it done in elementary but rarely enough that it made a big impression on my rule-following kid. She said it was unfair, and so it is. Life is not fair and that is the message. She said it was never used for anything minor but when kids were really out of control and wouldn't stop until the teacher pulled recess or instituted "silent lunch" or something like that. Again, very rarely used, but used.

It's about making clear to kids that they are part of the group, and if they behave certain ways, the entire group is affected and loses something it values.

Does this create peer pressure? I'm sure the teachers hope so. And it's fine with me if it means that other kids, who ARE behaving appropriately, tell the one who acts out (and gets "silent lunch" instituted for all, for instance) that he or she has to cut it out. Someone posted that it could lead to bullying of the child whose actions led to everyone losing recess etc. Seriously, folks? The kids who are the rule-followers are going to actively bully the kids who are yelling, acting up, etc.? Bullying is ongoing and repeated; kids telling a kid to "stop doing that or you'll get us all in trouble again" is not bullying.

If a teacher is using this weekly or even monthly, yes, the teacher probably lacks good control of the students overall and as a parent I'd get involved. OP, if your child's teacher is using this frequently, bring it up (without your child or any other student in earshot).

[Anonymous]

Recess is not allowed to be taken away in Arlington as a punishment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised people are not screaming about this. Punishing my child would violate his IEP and I suspect he is not alone.

Your child can't be punished? Freakin snowflake. I'd raise hell about that if my kid were in his class.