Who Makes of Breaks Classroom Rules?

issue citation if they break the rules or send them to the principal for dentention after school my son's school is very strict for students who fail to obey the rules they issue 1-4 citation the 3rd citation parents - teacher meeting 4th citation suspended for 3 days

If there is one thing that I've figured out during my career as a student is that there are three different groups of students. There is the group of students that will follow the rules you lay down no matter what. Then there is the group of students that will follow your rules because you have earned their respect but may test the boundaries at first, to see if you are going to deal with them or not. Then there is the group that really has no respect for authority and will disobey the rules. In fact, it doesn't matter what kind of punishment that you lay down. They will continue to disobey the rules. They will be flippant and rude. Perhaps they are lashing out for some reason. Perhaps it is a need for attention. However, there are just some people who just have a flippant attitude as it regards to their education. Some may grow out of it, but others never do.

The teacher may be the one who sets up and enforces classroom rules. Without students , there would no need for the rules. I guess you could say the students will be the ones to make or break the rules in class.

The biggest thing is to not make or enforce rules that make no sense. When I was a kid, no one was allowed to wear hats in class. Why? Do kids learn less wearing hats? No. What a stupid rule! Same thing with chewing gum. There is nothing wrong with chewing gum while you are sitting still because you won't choke on it, and it doesn't distract from learning. If a child pays enough attention to get good grades without cheating, does it matter if she or she doodles in his or her notebook from time to time? Again, no, because likely this student is bored because he or she is ahead. Kids can think for themselves, and they resent rules that don't make sense. All that tells them is that you think they are second-class citizens who must follow arbitrary commands for your amusement. Secondly, teenagers demand honesty. When a kid demands you tell him why he has to learn advanced functions, when it won't help him in life, don't try to make up some fake reason why advanced functions are essential. We all know they aren't, unless you want to pursue a career that requires that knowledge. Tell the kid that he's right, but if he can just get through this (and you're willing to help) the grade he gets in this class will help him have a good enough average to do whatever it is he DOES want to do with his life. I have taught a lot of teenagers, and there are always a few that test you on the first day. If you fail that test, they will walk all over you for the rest of the course. That kid who gives you attitude on day one, look him right in the eye, and tell him that if he's trying to figure out if you take that crap, the answer is no, and he'll enjoy himself more and get better grades if he DOESN'T try his best to piss you off. Then tell everyone that it is their choice how well they do. You're there for them if they want you to be, but you have too much of your own life to deal with to chase them down and force them to do things they don't want to do. But don't be so hard on yourself -- there will always be a kid every once in awhile that you just can't reach.

Being a classroom teacher for 8 years, I know the importance of being consistent with rules and consequences. The middle of winter is the time that is the worst both on the students and the staff of the school. If you are in a cold wintry place, the students have not been outside for recess in weeks. They have been cooped up indoors with the same people. As for what to do, re-iterate the importance of rules and clearly lay out the expectations that you have for the students and have clear consequences. My school uses a points plan. Students earn/lose 5 points a day. They have to have x% of their total points on the last day of the month to earn a party. Students lose points for behaviors, not turning in work and being late. Our mantra, school wide, is Be Here, Be Ready, Be Safe and Be Respectful.

I would say that rules were meant to be broken. As a few people before me have said, there would be no rules if there were nobody to break them. If course, that doesn't mean that one should break them. Your problem seems to be the obedience of your pupils. I would recommend enforcing your rules. You need to be more strict about punishments. Do not be the type of teacher that tells an empty threat. If you tell a student that you will be calling his or her parent, do it. Children that discover this about a teacher will take advantage of him or her. I hope I helped. Good luck!

I sympathize with you. My mother always taught my brother and me to behave in class. And I've been out of school for awhile, but even when I was there, it seemed lots of students were misbehaving. All the way in second or third grade, the school I attended thought I was slow because I raised my hand, sat quietly in class, and listened to the teacher. That's how strange they found kids who obeyed the teachers. To me, the teacher is the boss. As long as they're asking you to do the normal school things, then it's a student's duty to listen. Rules aren't made to break.