Introduction
As a head of school at Folkshire Public School, it should be noted that Schools have procedures for a variety of reasons. Policies shall set down rules and regulations to govern appropriate conduct and ensure that the school environment is safe for students, teachers and school staff. School policies also help to create a positive learning environment.
Rules and Regulations
Policies are established, mostly by the local school board, to ensure that rules and regulations are in place and implemented. Getting these policies in place ensures that there are clear guidelines for how school operations are conducted, down to the minute of detail, so that administrators, staff and students know what is anticipated and will respond accordingly. This saves time, removes misunderstanding and unifies the school.
Safe Learning Environments
Students, teachers and workers need to feel physically and mentally comfortable in their surroundings. In order to build this atmosphere, policies are created and enforced that set standards of protection for the physical environment and the mental health of students and staff. That is achieved also through the implementation of programs such as fire drills, anti-bullying programs and mental health guidelines.[1]
School Discipline and Social Justice
Social justice is about sharing resources fairly and treating all students equally so that they feel safe and secure — physically and psychologically. Regrettably, looking at schools around the country makes it clear that there is not always a equitable distribution of resources and equal treatment. Students in underfunded schools do not have the equipment, new books, or art and music programs to offer well-rounded education, while students in wealthier areas have the newest learning services, school counselors, librarians, and more to help them excel. Bringing social justice to schools shines a spotlight on all kinds of critical societal issues— from the multitude of causes that lie under the deep poverty, income, faith, status of parents and school acceptance of educators.[2]
School Discipline and Power
Each employee–management or otherwise –exercises a type of power in the workplace. Strength, at its heart, is the power of a person to exert his will over another. … Employees attempting to exert a form of power that is not suitable for a given situation can find it less sensitive to comply with their demands.
Bullying is a type of action where a person or a group intentionally exercises the power to injure or intimidate over a period of time or in an isolated event. It is necessary to understand that there may be discrimination between person or group of students, but also between staff and students. Bullying, whether verbal, physical or psychological, is a action that is purposely hurtful. This entails violence and an unfair power structure resulting in sometimes chronic discomfort and anxiety.
Bullying should not be accepted in all of its types and should be deemed to be a very serious offence to be dealt with in an acceptable manner and with all the requisite severity. Preventive measures will be implemented to make the school a safe space for all. Victims and other students should be encouraged to carry forward and report any averred or suspicious cases that should be handled very carefully in order to prevent the effect of the murderer.
Thus help should be given to the child victim as a first priority, the school should find effective methods of engaging with bullies to improve their violent behaviours as well as other positive approaches aimed at preventing repetition.[2]
Corporal Punishment
The Child Protection Act 1994 stipulates that’ every person who ill-treats a child or otherwise exposes a child to harm shall commit an offence.’ All instances of suspected corporal punishment shall be liable to prosecution and shall be dealt with in compliance with the relevant provisions of the legislation.
Pupils’ conduct outside the school gates – teachers’ powers.
What the law allows:
- According to behaviour policy, teachers may discipline students for misbehaviour when they engage in any school-based or school-related activity, or when they travel to or from school, or when they wear school uniforms, or in any other way recognizable as a student at school.
- In fact, if the student acts incorrectly at any time, whether or not the conditions set out above apply, this may have an effect on the orderly running of the school or pose a danger to another student or member of the public or may adversely affect the integrity of the school.
- For all cases of misbehaviour, a teacher should only punish a pupil for school grounds or elsewhere if the pupil is under the direct supervision of the staff member. [2]
It’s not uncommon for children in the classroom to do something to get your attention. Too much attention-seeking can be distracting, can cause problems, and can cause distractions. The attention-seeking kid will sometimes disrupt a lesson by blurring something out of it. An appetite for recognition is almost insatiable, so much so that the child sometimes does not seem to know if the recognition they receive is positive or negative. For certain instances, it doesn’t really seem to matter how much attention you pay to them. The more you give, the more they’re looking for.
Causes of Attention-Seeking Behavior
The attention-seeking kid wants more attention than others. They tend to have everything to prove, so they don’t take as much pride as they do extrinsically. The child may not have a sense of belonging. They may also suffer from low self-esteem, in which case they may need some support to regain their confidence. Often the watch-seeker is obviously inexperienced. If this is the case, adopt the strategies below and the child will gradually become more eager for attention.
Interventions
As a teacher, it’s important to remain calm in the classroom, even in the face of frustration. The attention-seeking child will often pose obstacles and must deal with them in an even-handed manner. The ultimate aim is to help the child grow confident and independent. If the child’s attention-seeking is distracting, sit down and demonstrate that you have a lot of children to deal with each day. Provide them with a span of time that’s only for them.
Just a two-minute period before or after recess (a time in which you can devote your attention solely to them) can be very beneficial. When your child asks for attention, inform them of their scheduled time. If you stick to this approach, you’ll find that it can be very successful.
These approaches can also be adopted which are as follows:
- Promote inner encouragement by asking the child to explain what they enjoy about their job or how they do it. It is a perfect way to promote self-reflection and help the child develop confidence.
- Also congratulate the child for their development and during the child’s special period, take time to create trust by offering some inspiring words. In addition, from time to time, provide the child with duties and leadership positions.
- Never forget that all children need to know that you care for them and that they can make a positive difference. It took a long time for the kid to become an intense seeker of publicity. Be cautious and realize that this activity or behaviour will take some time for them to unlearn.
- Note, students, particularly young students, don’t always know what kind of behaviour is acceptable. Take time to educate them about healthy behaviours, reactions, conflict management, and other social skills. Using role-play and drama to help students appreciate the thoughts and experiences of others.
- When you discover the attack, take the students involved aside and ask the killer to apologize directly to the victim. Holding students responsible for their harmful actions. In addition, as a instructor, we need to have a policy of zero tolerance in place that is well known. The instructor should consider and encourage good actions as much as possible.
Methodology used to address these identified issues by involving:
- Parents’ Rights & Responsibilities
Parents should be reminded of their obligations by means of a meeting, a phone call, an email or a letter. They have their rights and responsibilities which are as follows:-
Headmaster will remind parents of the following policies:
- School goals and procedures, success of the child (annually written report), actions of the child or other sanctions.
- Right of access to the child’s instructor (by appointment) to address progress / concerns, etc.
- To provide a healthy, well-balanced education for their child and to be alert to the difficulties of their child.
- o express their opinions in an acceptable manner and to treat their child equally. Overview of the school inspection report and the staff’s appreciation.
Parents’ Responsibilities:
- To take an interest in and encourage their child in their school careers.
- To ensure that their child attends on a regular basis, they arrive and are collected on time.
- To oversee and sign the homework of the child.
- To promote the laws of school and the strategy of discipline.
- To assume responsibility for the misbehaviour of their children and to take action to remedy misbehaviour.
- To ensure that their children get enough space, food and hygiene so that they can do their best.
- To attend school meetings concerning the health/welfare of their children.
- To support and respect the teaching staff in a positive way and to conduct themselves in a way conducive to the school ethic.
- To ensure that children carry all the required books and equipment to school.
Pupils’ Rights & Responsibilities
Pupils’ Rights:
- The new Curriculum should be taught in a specific and balanced way at the level appropriate to their growth.
- To be treated with honesty, justice, care and respect by teachers and other children.
- To a clean, healthy and happy climate.
- To learn without interruption from disruptive pupils.
- The right to be heard and to contribute to the debate of class.
- The Right to Special Needs Support if the child has a complaint.
- Incentives and fair penalties.
Pupils’ Responsibilities:
- Listen to me and work with the instructor.
- Respect all staff and other pupils.
- take care of their own and school land.
- work hard and offer the best in their class.
- attend school and be punctual.
- take responsibility for their own behaviour.
- abide by the rules.
- encourage other children to learn free of interruption.
- do all their homework and class work neatly.
Teachers’ Rights & Responsibilities
Teachers’ Rights:
- The right to dignity for infants, parents and colleagues.
- unhindered from pupil disruption.
- Discipline children when appropriate.
- Remove a disruptive kid from a lesson for a limited period.
- To be regarded as a specialist doing a good job.
- Set the standards.
- Support from friends, parents, teachers, parish and employees.
- A safe job environment.
- A reasonable and practical workload.
- Right to the material services required for the implementation of the school curriculum for all children.
- Opportunity to comment on the planning and review of the curriculum.
Teachers’ Responsibilities:
- Teaching the pupils assigned to him / her according to their educational needs.
- Maintaining good order and discipline among pupils in compliance with the policies of the hiring authority.
- Acting professionally.
- Promote good habits of courtesy, good order and cleanliness in the classroom. The calm and orderly movement of children to and from the classroom.
- To ensure appropriate class actions during visits and outings.
- Providing a warm and friendly learning atmosphere.
- Organize the classroom, organize the lessons and set a timetable.
Other Staffs’ Rights & Responsibilities
Staff have the right to achieve job satisfaction and appreciate their jobs.
- To be treated with respect / dignity.
- To have a free, clean, healthy community in which to work.
- To have the support of the staff, the senior management team and the board.
Other Staffs’ Responsibilities:
- Maintaining good order and discipline among students. ̈
- To Support the strategy of school pastoral care by ensuring that children are secure in their care.
- Promote good conduct.
THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, stakeholders and other bodies like MIE
In its role as regulator and facilitator, the Ministry undertakes to assume responsibility for the following:
- Enable policy and/or legal structures that may be required
- A National Curriculum that supports Values Education and encourages the development of social and emotional skills
- Collaborative, synergistic networking and sharing of knowledge with appropriate stakeholders to assist schools in resolving behaviour-related issues
- Counseling and other community services;
- Provision of human and other resources as may be needed by the school
- Training and ongoing professional development of school staff through the Mauritius Institute of Education.[3]
Specialised Agency
Involvement of Outside Agencies
If a pupil shows signs of increasingly destructive conduct, it will be brought to the attention of the head Master or Deputy head Master. Early intervention should aim to balance the needs of the student. It can include referrals to the Educational Psychological Program, the Behaviour Management Group, the Health Board or other outside organizations.
The school has the right to seek help from organizations and Non-commissioned bodies, including the Police Force, its Anti-Drug Unit or Crime Prevention Unit, NGOs and other organizations that make a significant contribution to the prevention of indiscipline.
Head Masters are encouraged to receive assistance from them in carrying out awareness drives for students. Moreover, prior to carrying out these operations, the Director of the Zone must be notified and his approval obtained.
Criminal crimes, to be dealt with under the applicable provision of the law, shall be reported to the Police. Responsibility for the execution of criminal investigations rests with the police and the school shall comply entirely.[3]
The Role of the Board of Governors
The position of the Board of Governors is to help the school in the implementation of the policy on Positive Behaviour Policy.
The Police Force, its Anti Drug unit or Crime Prevention unit and NGO’s intervention
Serious offenses n The rules and regulations will draw the attention of parents and students to the serious offenses committed under criminal law and to the legal implications if found guilty of violations of those laws. These include the following:
- Carrying of offensive weapons d (Re Circular letter ME/0400/16T1 of May 2004)
- Possession and use of drugs d (Re Circular letter ME/206/4/T2 of 24 October 2003)
- Assault and molestation
- Harassment and intimidation
- Theft
- Tampering with official records
- Possession and dissemination with obscene materials
- Smoking in public places is prohibited (Recircular letter ME/206/15 of 12 August 1998)
- Damaging school and public property
They would be warned that police action would be sought if these cases occurred at school and the consumption of alcoholic drinks and gambling at school premises is also prohibited.[4]
Rewards and Sanctions
The school should concentrate on improving healthy behaviours.
This will be achieved freely and explicitly through:
- Specific appreciation of the smile of another teacher
- Popular support for the handshake of the whole class
- Thank note written by the parents to thank the stars
- Praise the student at the assembly in front of all the pupils
- Show of pupils’ jobs granting
- an assembly certificate of accountability
In the classroom environment, teachers can rely on these and other incentives to control student actions effectively.
Managing Unacceptable Behaviour
Although a constructive incentive and encouragement program may try to direct children towards self-discipline, it is crucial that techniques exist to help teachers cope with destructive behaviours. Many teachers have developed their own successful ways of handling these actions. Initially, the withdrawal of rewards should be required when sanctions are required. If behaviour requires punishment, it should be appropriate for the offence to be committed, explained to the pupil and seen to be fair. The penalty would bring an end to the incident. Severe cases of negative conduct are registered in the Discipline Log. [5]
Circle Time
The school is committed to the ‘Circle Time’ program, which encourages a positive approach to communication and seeks to cultivate an emotionally sound learning atmosphere in which all students are respected and appreciated.[5]
Conclusion
School Discipline policy brings discipline to our students and our children. Their grades could have suffered, their social life could have deteriorated, and many other errors could have been made in the life of these children. The school should concentrate on promoting healthy behaviour by rewarding successful deeds in the classroom by constructive attitudes and performing well in the academic environment as well. Thus discipline is very crucial for a school to succeed in its vision and mission.
