I don't think you need to ask for another committee. It seems
to me that a schoolwide discipline plan could certainly be
discussed at a campus improvement meeting. Who sets the
agendas for these meetings? Does the principal attend? If not,
make sure to include her/him.
You can start the conversation with what you want to campus to
look and sound like outside of the classrooms - what should
the students do in the office area, the library, the
cafeteria, the playground, the computer lab, the
hallways/walkways, the parking lot etc.
Then, chart the dangerous, annoying, unorganized things that
students are doing in the common areas of the school. (this is
a great place to gripe. lol.)
Next prioritize, so that you identify one-three things you
have capacity to "take on" and that will make a big difference
in safety/atmosphere in the shortest time, or if there's
something really dangerous going on, you have to focus on that
first.
Then, break down the solution to your problem into smaller
parts and develop procedures, schedules and activities to
address the issues in your 1-3 areas. Make sure that you have
plenty of room for teaching the children, not just punishing
or rewarding (even if they are older, and should know better).
If your solutions involve the parents (requiring uniforms,
changing bell times, modifying homework policies for example)
make sure they're included and informed as you move forward.
Solicit the support of your parent groups.
Share the new rules and practices with the students. Tell them
and show them how they are to behave when in different parts
of the school. Implement and monitor. Some kids will probably
get worse at whatever they're doing at first, just testing.
But most will feel relieved because they have been very
uncomfortable without organization. Everyone follows the
schoolwide rules.
Sorry I wrote too much. I could go on, but you get the idea
about what a discipline committee does. It's easier to get a
grip on classroom behaviors when the children feel safe and
orderly out on campus. Because you say that your school has
horrible discipline issues, your committee would meet often,
and work on a problem or two at a time.
Leading this kind of reform is the job of the site
administrator. A COMMITTEE of colleagues is critical because
of the different ages and needs of the students. Different
backgrounds and experiences of the staff are needed because
creating an orderly and safe campus is a critical first step
to improving academic achievement, and it's a complex task in
some environments.
What are the major discipline issues at your school? Someone
here has probably had the same problems and has ideas for
solutions.
On 5/08/08, brash wrote:
> I am an elementary teacher looking for some input. My
> current school has not one faculty/staff committee, except
> campus improvement which ends up being a gripe session
> with no solutions to the poblems. As an example, the
> teachers are begging for a discipline committee, due to
> horrible discipline issues, but my principal is not
> understanding(?) what we mean. How do I respond when
> asked, "What does a discipline committee do?"
>
> What committees are in place at your school? Can you give
> me a summary of the responsibilities and how often they
> meet?
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