Students Behavior and School Policy - Essay Example

PART I: PROPOSED, BEHAVIOUR SCHOOL POLICY There should be order in every school to enable fulfil their learning potential (House of Commons 3). Therefore, it should be every school’s objective to manage student behaviour. It should also be noted that behaviour is one of the dominant discourses in schooling (Ball, Maguire and Braun 98). This public, high school, student behaviour policy aims at promoting high standards of behaviour to enhance a secure environment for all, which is orderly and safe. The behaviour policy contains the following elements. Fighting Bullying Bad Language Respect Attendance and Keeping of Time Uniform Classroom Rules Use of On or Off School Property According to this policy, the following is acceptable; Observation of silence in class or talking in a low voice when it deems necessary Wearing school uniform always Avoiding fights with fellow students Observing respect for fellow students, teachers and other school staff Avoiding bullying fellow students Attending all lessons and keeping time, unless there is leave for being sick or other unavoidable circumstances Using school property appropriately Observation of all the school rules to enhance smooth running According to this policy, the following is unacceptable; Selfish behaviour Disruption of lessons Fighting other students Bullying other students Shouting while in class Speaking rudely and use of bad language Misbehaving Improper use of on or off school property According to the Behaviour policy, the following punishment guidelines are applicable; Fighting, bullying and use of bad language: Suspension for two days Failure to observe class attendance and timekeeping: Suspension for one day Failure to wear school uniform: Suspension for a day Improper use of on or off school property such as computers to harm others while either in school or at home: Suspension for two days The purpose of this policy is to; Manage unacceptable student behaviour through discipline Promote positive student behaviour Maintain an environment of respect The policy embraces the following concepts; There should be no bullying, harassment and victimisation of other students There should no fighting among students Students should not use bad language Both students and school staff should respect each other The policy includes the major stakeholders of the school, and this includes; Students Teachers and Other School Staff Parents According to the policy, various stakeholders should perform the following roles as outlined; Principal Ensure that there is a safe and a peaceful atmosphere for both students and staff Implement and monitor this behaviour policy Ensure consistent disciplinary actions for those act contrary to this behaviour policy Teachers and Other Staff Take part in the implementation of the student behaviour policy and instil good behaviour among students Report cases of disruptive behaviour for punishment Students Follow the guidelines provided in the student behaviour policy and comply with directions Demonstrate respect for teachers, colleagues, and other staff, and should not engage in any form of misconduct Parents Offer support to schools during the student behaviour policy implementation The school rewards and offers acknowledgment certificates to those who encourage good behaviour and discourage unacceptable behaviour. PART II: ARGUMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED SCHOOL POLICY An orderly learning environment is necessary for every school to enhance smooth learning, without interruptions. Student misbehaviour in high schools is a significant cause of learning disruptions. It should be note that student misbehaviour is an international concern. According to (The Guardian par 5), student misbehaviour disrupts lessons in sixty percent of the schools in world. Students enjoy classes where there is no disruption, but this is not always the case for some schools because of student misbehaviour. Student misbehaviour has led to negative consequences in the achievement of educational goals. Since behaviour includes students’ actions that can influence others, high school student misbehaviour has to be brought into check by a behaviour policy, or else its negative consequences may develop into the society. The problem of misbehaviour is a result of lack of, or poor behaviour policies, but with the implementation of the proposed public, high school, student behaviour policy, discipline and order can be instilled in high schools to enhance smooth learning and enhance the achievement of educational objectives. Part III: ESSAY IN SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED SCHOOL POLICY The proposed public high school, student behaviour policy is extremely productive because of various reasons. First, through proper implementation of the proposed public high school, student behaviour policy, the school management will be able to avoid student exclusion from class, which, consequently, may lead to academic under-achievement. Poor behaviour in schools, especially in classrooms, reduces the ability of students to concentrate and learn. Misbehaviour also unsettles students and causes significant stress to teachers. This policy will ensure that such events do not occur. Consequently, this will reduce the exclusion of students from class work. The proposed behaviour policy will ensure that students follow guidelines properly. When students follow the guidelines of this policy appropriately, they will maintain high standards of good behaviour, and they will not be excluded from learning, as a punishment. Consequently, performance and achievement is expected to be extremely high. Secondly, proper implementation of this behaviour policy will increase the learning potential of high school students. This is possible because exclusions will be either reduced or eliminated, in some cases. Therefore, the amount of time that students are expected to be in class, learning and acquiring knowledge will be maximised. Consequently, when students spend a considerable amount of time in learning, their learning potential is boosted significantly. Also, proper implementation of the proposed, public, high school, student behaviour policy will create a favourable environment for learning, thus increasing the learning potential of high school students. Third, the proposed, student behaviour policy is an important tool for reducing teacher stress. Most high school teachers are stressed by student misbehaviour. This includes indiscipline, misconduct in classrooms and failure of lesson attendance and timekeeping. The behaviour policy will discourage misconduct in class, indiscipline among students and absenteeism and poor timekeeping. As a result, teacher stress will be eliminated or reduced drastically. Most students who engage in misbehaviour do not settle in class work. This also applies to those who are affected by this misconduct. The proposed, public, high school, student behaviour policy will avoid the trend of unsettled students that is exhibited in high schools. This is because, under successful implementation, the policy will eliminate or significantly reduce cases of bullying, fighting and other forms of misbehaviour by students that affect fellow students directly. Every student will enjoy a secure learning environment, free of anxiety. The policy will enhance cooperation between the school and home. This is because the implementation of the policy has been communicated to the parents. Therefore, parents will be expected to take part in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the proposed, public, high school, student behaviour policy. Levels of cooperation are also likely to be high because the policy has included all staff, students and parents. The role of parents in instilling appropriate behaviour among their children can be achieved because some of the acts of misconduct are committed while students are at home. Therefore, parents should be able to punish their children or report them to the school for punishment. Since the proposed, public, high school, student behaviour policy is founded on the principle of getting it right, it will enhance school safety. Most behaviour policies concentrate on how to address problems, after they occur, but this proposed, public, high school, student behaviour policy will ensure that it prevents such events from occurring. Therefore, school safety will be enhanced because chances of a student fighting, bullying, using bad language against fellow students, or failing to observe other policy guidelines will be minimised or eliminated. In turn, school safety will enhance positive learning outcomes and increase the level of achievement of educational goals. . The fact that the proposed, public, high school, student behaviour policy includes all the stake holders, teachers will feel that they have the support of parents and the school leadership in the application of this behaviour policy. Few schools engage parents or attach parental buy –in for successful implementation of behaviour policies (Reed 4). On the contrary, the proposed, public, high school, student behaviour policy includes parents as major stake holders in the development and implementation of the policy. Other parents engage with schools in matters relating directly to their children, only on defensive and hostile grounds, rather than being supportive (Reed 4). Therefore, the proposed, public, high school, student behaviour policy focuses on improving the comfort of parents in communicating with teachers about matters pertaining to the behaviour of their children. The proposed, public, high school, student behaviour policy ensures that teachers will teach without interruptions while students will learn without interruptions. Teachers will be able to teach without interruption because students are expected to observe class room rules, under the proposed, public, high school, student behaviour policy. Also, students will learn without interruptions because issues such as fighting, bullying and use of bad language against them by their fellow students are highly discouraged by the proposed, public, high school, student behaviour policy. The direct and severe consequences outlined in the proposed, public, high school, student behaviour policy will caution students to be keen about their actions, before engaging in fights. Also, students will not have to fight back in the name of self-defence because fighting, using bad language and bullying in school is highly prohibited under the proposed, public, high school, student behaviour policy. The proposed, public, high school, student behaviour policy encourages and reinforces acceptable behaviour among high school students. Consequently, students can apply both what they have learnt and the acceptable behaviour into their homes and in society. It should also be noted that student discipline is important in ensuring that a favourable learning environment for all (NSW par 1). It develops responsibilities for students and encourages respect, which are vital pillars that support effective teaching and learning. The proposed, public, high school, student behaviour policy provides standards of behaviour that are acceptable. Under this proposed, public, high school, student behaviour policy, it is expected that levels of response to positive and negative behaviour will be high. This is because, the proposed, public, high school, student behaviour policy outlines what is acceptable and what is unacceptable. Also, the level of school attendance is expected to be high, after a successful implementation of the proposed, public, high school student behaviour policy. Separately, implementation of the proposed, public, high school, student behaviour policy will enhance good relationships among students and teachers. It will also boost self esteem and self discipline. The proposed, public, high school, student behaviour policy will ensure home and school implementation of acceptable behaviour. For instance, students may use on or off school property inappropriately such as computers. A group of students can use their personal computers to post defamation and malicious information about a fellow student on social media, during the weekend. The effect of such actions may have considerable, negative impacts on the victim of such defamation. It will have an effect on the victim in school too. Therefore, this is a case of misbehaviour that involves both the school and homes, and cooperation between teachers and parents is required to punish those involved. The proposed, public, high school, student behaviour policy allows for such cooperation. This will instil self-respect, self control and accountability for one’s own behaviour among high school students. In conclusion, proposed, public, high school, student behaviour policy will create an environment that is in the expectation of everyone. Such an environment promotes and encourages acceptable behaviour. It should also be noted that under the behaviour policy, the school will reward and offer acknowledgment certificates to those who encourage good behaviour and discourage unacceptable behaviour. Consequently, every student will feel happy and safe in school, if the proposed, public, high school, student behaviour policy is implemented, monitored and evaluated effectively. Works Cited Ball, Stephen J, Meg Maguire and Annette Braun. How Schools Do Policy: Policy Enactments in Secondary Schools. Abingdon: Routledge Publications , 2012: 97-102. Print. House of Commons. "Behaviour and Discipline in Schools." (3 February 2011). Web. 13 October 2013. NSW. "Going to a Public School." (2013). Web. 13 October 2013. Reed, Jodie. Toward Zero Exclusion: An Action Plan for Schools and Policy Makers. London : Institute for Public Policy Research Press, 2005: 3-7. Print. The Guardian. "Pupil Misbehaviour is an International Problem." (2013). Web. 13 October 2013. Read More