From: Sheila.King@f315.n103.z1.fidonet.org (Sheila King)
Newsgroups: k12.chat.teacher
Subject: RE: MISSED MESSAGE ON DIS
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 93 19:25:00 PDT
Organization: FidoNet node 1:103/315 - Castle of the Four , Diamond Bar CA

More to Amarit:

-> What exactly is a valid reason?

Already mentioned above, the student has a slip. Sometimes, however,
even if the student doesn't have a slip I may think the explanation for
tardiness is reasonable. How can I possibly give you a list of what
"valid reasons" are to me? It varies, and I consider each one on a case
by case basis.

-> What do you think the student learns when he/she is sitting in
-> detention?

Well, if the student is as intelligent as you and I, he will find
detention a silly waste of time, and hope to avoid it in the future. So
the student will learn, that the behavior which earned him the detention
should be avoided if he wants to not waste his own time.

-> How do you know the student has understood the cause of the
-> detention?

By talking to the student at the time I decide to give him the
detention. Understanding is very important to me. I'd rather not give
any detention at all, than give one and have the student not understand
what it's for.

-> I certainly hope you don't assume that the student is just going to
-> realize that he/she has too many "checks" in your book and that's why
-> he/she is in detention

I make no such assumption.

-> I have found that the student will be late to class because he/she
-> found the class boring, or that the student had things that "were
-> more important" do to...in trying to find out what exactly those
-> things are, I've come to many different stories, and since have come
-> to conclude that maybe a change in the way the material is presented
-> and the way a student can opt to take that material and lecture makes
-> the difference in getting a student excitied about school.

You are absolutely correct that a "boring class" could be one reason a
student would be late, and that the teacher should try to enliven the
class to prevent a student being tardy for that reason. Just because I
have rules about kids being tardy to class, doesn't mean I don't feel
just as you have described above, and that I don't try to make my
classes more interesting. Well, I still feel like a could improve,
though I think I've made improvements from my first year teaching. But I
do keep that in mind when planning my classes.

-> Exactly how long after class starts is a student considered tardy by
-> your hand?

As soon as the bell has rung, if the student isn't in his seat he is
tardy.

-> That's really great!  You have scared the living daylights out of
-> your students and you know...they're coming to your class on time not
-> because they like your class, or because they are actually interested
-> in learning, but because they don't want to have to spend any more
-> time than they have to at school and in the track of learning.

The above is absolutely NOT true about me, my class or my students. They
are NOT scared of me, they LIKE my class (they have TOLD me so) and you
can come visit some time if you'd like to see for yourself.

-> Sorry, but I certainly couldn't resist the chance of my slight
-> sarcasm.

Try a little harder next time. I really didn't appreciate it.

-> My philosophy as far as keeping students "in line" stems from getting
-> them to want to learn, not getting them to hate coming to class for
-> fear that they aren't going to do "the right thing" to please the
-> teacher...the whole idea for me is to get the kids to please
-> themselves...not me.

I agree with you, that this should be our prime motivation as teachers.
However, that doesn't mean I shouldn't also have standards of behavior
that I expect my students to live up to, and consequences if they don't.
If I'm doing a good job getting them to want to learn, the consequences
will never be necessary anyway. And this is the way it mostly happens in
my classes.

-> No it should never REQUIRE a punishment.  These are kids and they
-> should be allowed to BE kids.

These are adults-in-training, and in the real world inappropriate
actions have very real consequences. The law is the law. I think it is
quite alright for students to become familiar with that type of
situation.

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