| Physical
Activity as Punishment - Banned at Last!
In October
and November
2003, then again in May
2004 (see the PELINKS4U Archives), I shared my concerns, and the
thoughts of others, about using our subject matter, physical activity,
to punish students for misbehavior. I also mentioned that as a local
school board member I had raised the issue with my colleagues. Because
we were at that time reviewing our board policies I presented a
rationale (with supporting evidence) for banning this practice.
I am pleased to report that 12-months later, after much discussion,
last week our school board passed a revised policy on Classroom
Management, Corrective Actions, or Punishment. Inserted into this
policy was the following statement:
"Physical activity unrelated to misconduct, including
the denial of recess at the elementary level, should not be used
or withheld as a form of discipline."
In fact, our board spent longer discussing this issue than any
other in the entire review of school district policies. And of course
this is only the beginning. Changing policy does not automatically
change behaviors. Implementing the policy and changing the behavior of
people who have for years routinely used various physical activities
to punish student misbehavior will not occur overnight.
I wish change were faster. In fact I wish my colleagues on the
school board would immediately implement all of my "great"
ideas. Of course they don't. While this is frustrating it's also
probably not such a bad thing. If we quickly implemented everyone's
new ideas we'd create havoc in our educational systems.
The message I'd like to share with you, in any dealings you may
have with your local school board, is to recognize that change in
our schools is possible but is likely to be much slower than you
would like. The KEY to change, and the reason so many efforts at
change fail, is the need for persistence. Far too often members
of the public address school boards with issues, don't get the response
they desire, and give up while muttering disparaging remarks about
board members.
Seven years on a school board have taught me that if you want something
changed you must keep at least TWO strategic principles in mind.
First, school boards are publicly elected officials. They respond
to public pressure. The more people you can get supporting an issue,
the more likely the board is to listen. And second, be persistent.
Don't expect immediate change. Keep coming back and keep getting
more people supporting your issue.
My next step is to now insist that principals, teachers, the athletic
director, and coaches are informed about the new policy regarding
physical activity and punishment. I don't doubt there will be resistance.
But just like changes in laws, most people eventually change their
behavior even if they continue to disagree with the law. I guess
I am optimistic enough to believe, that if properly implemented,
we are now at least on the road to changing this behavior in our
school district.
Finally, I am delighted to welcome back Terri Covey as the new
PELINKS4U web master, and would like to thank Vanessa Dunn for three
years as web master. Good luck Vanessa with your graduate degree
studies! Terri is in fact not new to the site but was responsible
for its redesign several years ago.
A welcome also to Dawn Sakaguchi my new PELINKS4U graduate assistant.
And ongoing thanks to all of the volunteer PELINKS4U editors for
the great work they do creating our monthly sections. PELINKS4U
is an almost entirely volunteer effort. If you might be interested
in section editing, or contributing some ideas that have worked
for you, please contact us.
Have a great fall.
Steve Jefferies, Publisher
PELINKS4U
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