The Political Side

As a teacher, you can only control what occurs in your classroom. Unfortunately, there is much that happens outside the classroom that affects your students and their performance. Over the past several weeks I have been observing the school and student conduct outside of the classroom. For example, I stand outside on the courtyard observing the children, what and how they play, and who, if anyone, is watching them.

One of my earliest observation is troubling. Two students fought each other on the courtyard as students were lining up to be walked into their class. The two students were separated and then let go. The two students still fuming found each other and began fighting again. Again, they were momentarily separated and returned to fight each other. I decided to step in and I took one child and made sure he didn't leave my side. The situation was finally addressed and the two students were taken to the office.

Afterward, I asked the counselor and a few teachers what is the policy of fighting in school. They all told me there isn't a standard policy when it comes to fights. This was very surprising to me. Every public school I attended always had a zero tolerance or standard policy on school fights. All students knew that a fight results in suspension. I asked why there isn't a standard policy and when is a child suspended. I was told that it would have to be severe and after several involvements in fights. I was very surprised but was told that part of the hesitancy to suspend had to do with the school's image and the politics of keeping a positive image. Unfortunately, this tells children that fighting does not have a direct and certain consequence.

The lack of discipline, I believe, puts a greater strain on the teachers. Students will more likely act up because there isn't any standard. Essentially, the teachers are being supported at an administrative level because they want to try to maintain or leave the negative image the school holds.