Homecoming

This is a little late, but I must post about our Homecoming Week.  I know that the chaos, and change in schedules that Homecoming brings reeks havoc on my students.  However, I never would have imagined that it would be this bad.  Not only was it homecoming, but also the end of chapter one in several different classes.  In addition to the activities and schedule changes, there were several tests given.

My students have not yet settled into the new Above the Line, Below the Line, and Bottom Line system of expectations and consequences.  In addition, the change from an unstructured summer, to the structured school year had not yet settled in for students.  This created the "perfect storm"of behavior out bursts.  

One student refused to take a test.  He got so angry that I had to clear the room.  Partially because he was shoving chairs and kicking things, and continuing to escalate.  The other reason was to remove his audience.  It escalated to the point of almost calling the police.  After calming the student down we agreed that he could complete the test t he next day, because now he knows what the expectations are.  We assured him there would not be another chance.  

One student threw his books across the room, as I was discussing the need to take a test on Monday.  He declared that he does not take tests on Monday.  He did choose not to take the test.  I have had to get tough on students thinking that they can take tests when ever they feel like it.  The problem with this is that while they have a test sitting, waiting to be taken, the class moves on.  One of two things happen, and neither is positive, nor helps the student learn.  Either the student keeps up with the new material and forgets the material on the test, or they study for the test, and take it, while getting behind with the new material.  It makes for a constant game of catch up.  I made it clear to the student that if he chose not to take the test, he was choosing to give up his extra time, and choosing to receive a 0 on the test.  

Another student was swearing and had to leave the class one day.  He was angry because he couldn't leave class to read during reading tim in class.  This is another change, because there simply is not a teacher available all the time, and because when students leave class to work, nine times out of ten, they don't work.  This student had chosen to hide out in the locker room, instead of return to class, and had received detentions for this.  

To top off the week, Friday morning staff and students arrived to find an absolute mess at the high school.  The trees were t-peed, which is common,  There was old furniture on the front step, the senior prank.  But, the problem was the lower level windows were covered in peanut butter an flour, there was broken glass all over the front steps, spray paint, and american cheese on windows.  Some areas had been egged and paint-balled.  To top it off the surveillance camera had been sprayed with silly string at the start of the destruction.  As soon as school started an announcement was made that we would operate on a regular schedule, and the parade and pep fest were cancelled.  Administration spent the day gathering and questioning students that were involved.  In the afternoon an new announcement was made that the pep fest was back on.  

There was argument among staff about this change.  Some claimed that it's not fair to punish everyone for something a few did.  Some did not believe the damage was that bad and had a "kids will be kids" attitude.  While it could have been much worse, and it was unfortunate that the entire student body had to suffer there are two reasons I disagreed with the change.  The first is that, in order to make a statement and assure that this would not happen again by a following senior class, all students needed to suffer consequences.  Second, I would have approved of having a pep fest, had it not been taken away in the morning.  However, once you take something away, it shouldn't be given back.  This provides mixed messages.  This tells the students, if you whine enough, you'll get your way.

The homecoming example is the biggest problem with trying to enforce consequences for students, especially my students.  While, I agree with giving a student a second chance to complete a test because he was unaware of the expectations for taking this test, clear consequences have to be followed through for clear expectations.  All students know that the damage caused to the school were clear violations not only of expectations, but of the law.  

The key take-aways from this week include: change is difficult for many, but especially students with emotional-behavioral disorders; expectations and consequences need to be made clear; and consequences must be followed through with, or it sends mixed messages.