Crime and Punishment

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Crime and Punishment
By Nita Hoelscher
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Interesting Statistics.

• 5 of our students take up 95 of teachers,
  assistant-principals, or disciplinarians time.
• Can you list on one hand the students who fit
  into this category?

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When compared to adult offenders, the statistics
are also significant

• 73 of adults who serve time in prison will get
  out, commit another crime, and return to prison.
• The question is, WHY?

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The answer may lie in our treatment of
punishment.

• Examples of common punishment
• Tardy for class three times, 45 minute detention
  after school. (your time for mine)
• Being called down for off task behavior several
  times, 45 minutes after school.
• Talking back..automatic referral
• Endangering the safety of classmates-referral and
  possible suspension

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So, could the system be flawed?

• Could these guys consciously want punishment?

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Remember, were talking about that 5..........

• What does the system do with our worst
  offenders?
• Put them in ISS away from instruction
• Send them home for 3,5,7 days to
• watch tv..
• Send them to alternative school with
  their friends. ..

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As Fred Jones says, Is something wrong with this
picture?

• Could there be something wrong with the way we
  are handling that 5?

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Could it be we are giving that 5 exactly what
they want????

• Time away from class?
• Time where they do not have to do school work?
• Time when they can watch tv and do what they want
  ?
• Time where no one tells them what to do?

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So, what are our alternatives?

• Think about the punishment
• you use on most of your
• kids? Do you use the same
• punishment on all the kids,
• no matter what they do?

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My punishment was.DETENTION!
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That meant

• Coming in after school..
• Sitting in a chair facing a corner
• Not communicating, not saying a word for the
• allotted time
• Most of the time there was a this is what you
  need to do discussion after the detention.

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So, what was the most important part of that
detention?

• Think about it

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Recall the statistics.

• 73 of adult offenders return to prison after
  having served a full sentence before..
• 5 of our greatest problem students continue to
  get into trouble time and time again

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Main Point

• Negative behaviors will not be eliminated simply
  by applying a punishment.
• Students must understand the replacement
  behaviors that are needed, and they must
  understand what negative behaviors they are
  committing.

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Main Point 2

• Not every student needs the same punishment. Some
  students actually enjoy spending time with you
  after school. Some students really enjoy the
  isolation of in-school suspension. Some students
  want total suspension.

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According to Lee Canter, the mastermind of
Assertive Discipline.

• 99 of discipline problems can be reached, but as
  teachers, we need to determine what the student
  does not want!

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Canter told a great story.

• Mr. Canter is probably not five feet tall. He was
  teaching in an inner-city high school in LA with
  many gang members. He had tried everything with
  the leader..this kid was tough. Finally, he
  called the boys home and visited with his
  grandmother. She said she would do anything to
  help the boy get through school. Canter invited
  her to spend a day following the boy around
  school.

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AFTER TWO PERIODS

• The boy told Canter, Ill do whatever you
  wantjust get her out of here!

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Closure

• Think about the difficult students you deal with
  everyday.
• Does the punishment you give work?
• Are you using the same punishment day after day,
  even though it doesnt work?
• Are you simply punishing, or are you discussing
  positive replacement behaviors?
• Are you telling the student exactly what you
  expect in your room?

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Post a response in your portfolio

• And remember..the kids that are hardest to love
  are the ones who need your love the most! And
  your determination to keep trying with themeven
  when you want to quit is major!