This happened to my son in 1st grade. It got to the point he didn't even want to go to school on a "Fall Party" day because the whole class was going to miss recess. I went in and asked the teacher if my son had been involved in the bad behavior that resulted in the punishment. I was assured that he was a wonderfull student and that she had never had a problem with him. I then went on to explain to her that my son needed his recess time to release the energy that he is able to control during classtime, unlike some of the other students. I think this is a rediculous way to manage a group of kids. It is certainly not a childs responsibility to control his friends if the teacher can't even do it. This is something they do in the Military not with elementary students. I requested that my son not be punished in the future if he is not guilty of the improper behavior. They no longer took recess from him.
I thought that was what you meant, but have learned never to assume anything. Teachers/administration have done some things so strange, I had to ask to be sure.
Sorry AJ, I was typing my reply and got interruppted so by the time I finished and posted others had responded. The staff member was using the whole class punishment. They now use the stand outside and watch the other play method or the teacher may have the offenders stay in the classroom with their heads down.
Thank you all for your wonderful posts and suggestions. If the new wave is getting peer pressure to make the others behave...I truly have a problem with that. We try to teach our children not to be a bully or tolerate anyone bullying them. This is just a problem waiting to happen. They first noticed my daughter's speech delay last year. It wasn't even her teacher that caught it but rather a psychologist visiting her classroom. I asked her, in earlier grades, if any teacher ever handled punishment/discipline this way and she said no. The discipline was handled on a case by case (individual) basis...not as a whole classroom. It just makes me furious to know that there are other children in this classroom who are not partaking in this type of behavior but are constantly punished. If they are too quiet and shy to speak up in class when called on...how on earth are they going to have the nerve or assertiveness skills to say to the other classmate, "Hey...please stop talking as I want to go out for recess." I can possibly see some retalitory action on this part. I'm going to monitor the situation and I really appreciate all of your suggestions and tips. I want to remain neutral and objective about this when I approach the teacher. I'm a very positive person and I would hope this could be rectified in a civil manner. This is a wonderful board and I'm glad I found you all!!
When my daughter was in 4th we had the same thing happen. The principal had instructed all the staff that this was a discipline method that was NOT to be used, but one of the associates who monitored indoor recess kept doing it. My daughter, who like yours is very well behaved and quiet, told me about it and after the 2nd incident I mentioned it to the principal. She told the staff member to stop, but pretty soon she did it again. My daughter actually got furious and she and some of her friends went to the principal themselves! The principal then told the staff member to stop or she would be terminated. Needless to say she stopped!
