Comments:

LA - 2004-09-09 14:25:29
That's some sharp thinking! I don't know if I'd have picked up on your very sound and wise arguments. I was still back at the beginning wondering how on Earth it became necessary to pay children for behaving as they should be anyhow. I'm not against treats, just that wouldn't it be a better thing to punish the tardy and truant in ways that are effective enough to make change in their behavior? A change for the better? Take it on a case by case at first, sorting the truants and dawdlers out from the kids at the mercy of parents. ABesides, if the parent brings the child in late aren't they required to come sign the kid in and make excuse for the lateness? It's that way in our district. If it's not policy at yours, you should suggest it. Maybe if they had to get their butts out of the car and bring the child in personally they'd do a better job of getting their kid to school on time. Rewarding good behavior is fine, modifying bad behavior is better for everyone, I think. Gah! I wrote a novel! ~LA
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Hipmama. - 2004-09-09 14:44:41
We use alot of behavior managment where I work with my students, and it is common knowledge not to punish a class based on an individual student's behavior. Like you said if a student is late because of the parent it is not fair. Often times if you do punish the class (or not reward) based on an individual the students end up turning on each other. Very Lord of the Rings.
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Heather - 2004-09-09 22:04:46
Jean Piaget and Maria Montessori would concur with your reasoning. I would also add that it become imperative that the rewards don't become a source of humilitation for the hildren who don't earn them. No teachers should be saying to the kids that they aren't going to earn their reward, because then it becomes a punishment. In addition, offending parents need to be contacted directly by the building principal, if they're not already. In Washington we have the Becca Bill, and schools prosecute such offending parents. If AZ doesn't have this, the PTO is just the organization to spearhead an effort.
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cat - 2004-09-09 23:09:57
I tend to agree...the sad thing is, that group responsibility is a mentality that iis prevelant in the adult world too. All that crap about teamwork and how everyone on "the team" is responsible for the behavior of everyone else. What a load of crap.
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nygypsy - 2004-09-11 00:09:25
Admittedly I am one of the perpetually late people. Even if I have good intentions, something makes me late. Thankfully it does not seem that my kids have inhereted that trait in full force BUT if it comes down to me taking them to school, they are late. Doctor appointments, late. Work, late. It never fails. Would it do me any good for my sons to be punished on my behalf? Not likely. yes the effort would be put forth to try to alleviate the problem but I am already aware of the problem and religiously I will still be late. Be careful when proposing/choosing what to do. It really isn't fair to make the kids pay for the sins of their parents.
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