Classical U
Educating Families Classically....And Having A Good Bit of Fun
Lunchtime Detentions
What do parents think of using silent lunchtime detentions as a consequence for minor infractions (such as incorrect uniform or wandering the hallways)?
Here are the current guidelines. Purpose of lunch detentions: To hold students accountable in the minor issues of daily life together at CCA by providing a simple and modest consequence that administrators and teachers can apply consistently.
Teachers understand that they are to exercise grace and wisdom in each case, encouraging and supporting students as they hold them to our school standards.
Lunch detentions will follow these procedures:
- Adult supervisors should record if any students fail to arrive promptly.
- Students who need to microwave their lunch are to use the one in the downstairs teacher break room. (Only students who are purchasing a lunch should have a need to go up to the MPR.)
- Once everyone is present, adult supervisors will read a short Bible passage with students, pray with them, encourage them to spend this time in fruitful reflection, and expect them to remain quietly in their seats during the duration of the period.
- For the last ten minutes, students may read quietly from leisure material provided or approved by the supervisor. (Students may not complete school work or use laptops.)
- Just prior to dismissal, the supervisor or a student volunteer will close with prayer.
- Students will not receive lunch detentions for being tardy due to late transportation of any type.
As a school, we wish to communicate our expectations to students and parents clearly and in multiple forms. Students should know about waiting in the lobby and multipurpose room before 7:45 in the morning; about reporting to home rooms, classes and study halls on time; about dismissal procedures such as remaining in the lobby as they wait for their bus to arrive; and about the need to sign out whenever they have explicit permission to leave the building. Students should also be familiar with our published uniform guidelines. (Uniform specifics and other student expectations can be found in the Upper School Student Handbook which was distributed early in the year as well as on the CCA Website.)
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Views: 10
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jesse Hake on -
I will not bother posting positive feedback but here is a summary of initial concerns with some basic responses as starting points:
1) It sounds negative and reactionary.
Response: We are blessed with wonderful students at CCA and don’t feel that there are any major concerns or changes needed in our current practices. This is simply an idea for clearing up some common instances of sloppiness and supporting our teachers by providing consistency with the small things.
2) It sounds legalistic.
Response: We talked about this with students this morning. None of our rules at CCA are considered to be a way of improving our standing before God. They are simply one means that we have agreed upon for creating a certain institutional culture and we wish to consistently abide by the rules that we establish. Faithfulness in the small things is a good way to grow and learn. We plan to speak and pray with students, continually reinforcing these simple things.
3) It sounds “a little harsh.”
Response: It may very well be. This is something I want to think about over time. It is one area in which I would love to hear more ideas from the students and parents. One parent suggested weeding flower beds. I like that idea very much. Consequences for the little infractions just need to be easy to implement so that we can be consistent without wasting too much student or adult time.
4) If you start with the bar this high, what happens with next level offenses?
Response: Related to the above question and certainly worth more reflection. I would say that a silent lunch is not that serious. It’s a good time to connect with students and pray about faithfulness in the small things. For more serious infractions, I would involve parents and impose more serious detentions. I am not committed to one type of consequences, however, and would love to hear more ideas. A degree of flexibility and creativity is a good goal.
5) How many untucked shirts would necessitate a parental visit?
Response: Typically, a student could struggle to master this skill for a long time and never need a parent visit. I would only consider a parent visit if a student was clearly indicating that they wished to make a battle line out of this issue (not something I would expect to happen with any students that I've known at CCA).
6) Would the student having to serve a silent lunch have an opportunity to heat their lunch first?
Response: I’m a softy and would typically allow them to heat up their lunch. I’m not sure that I’d want to make a hard and fast rule regarding this.
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Permalink Reply by Greg Lowe on -
I know these are not major offenses or major punishments, but since you have asked. The punishment of silent lunch seems easy enough to administer, but punitive. While weeding might be a good idea (as it makes something sloppy neat), I like the idea of something restorative, or action that is opposite the offense. If my offense is sloppy (shirt untucked), then maybe my punishment is straightening or cleaning something up, including my untucked shirt of course. If I am late, perhaps allowing others to be served/seated for lunch ahead of me, helping them maiximize their time, etc...
Just a thought.
GML
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Permalink Reply by Jesse Hake on
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Thanks for the thoughts. There is plenty of straightening to be done in the warehouse typically...
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Permalink Reply by Josh Lowe on -
As a student who has his shirt untucked frequently, and up until recently received no punishment for the offense, whatever the final punishment is, is enough to make me check by shirt every time I get up from my seat. And most cases it is untucked and I am glad I checked. So the new rule is working.
With regards to the punishment, I would agree with my dad as pragmatically, a restorative punishment improves the school grounds and also encourages work rather than expending zero energy while eating food at the same time.
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Permalink Reply by Jesse Hake on
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Glad to get a good report. Student attitudes have been wonderful thus far, and several parents and students have provided enthusiastic feedback. I agree that restorative measures are clearly a biblical ideal, especially in particular cases where harm has been done to another person. However, simple punishments (such as the rod) are also appropriate in their place and are most easy to apply consistently with regard to the mundane matters of daily life.
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Permalink Reply by Jesse Hake on
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Great comments from the most recent email. I agree that facing the wall is a pointless humiliation and will drop that idea.
Since this has generated feedback, I will give you my gut-level response to the lunchtime detention. I think it is an excellent idea. The only thing that seemed to me a bit punitive for the age group was having students face the wall during the lunch detention. Given that the infractions are minor, I think it would be good to give the benefit of the doubt -- that they will not interact with each other if that is the rule -- and let them face forward as in a normal classroom setting. If anyone caused trouble during the detention, then perhaps that person could be asked to face the wall or go to the dean's or principal's office.
Trinity High School ... gives detention for lack of uniform compliance. The only times it doesn't work well are when the teachers are either too lax to the point where students don't respect the rule or too eager to catch kids not complying to the point where the moralistic atmosphere becomes counterproductive.
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Permalink Reply by Bill Cave on -
I agree with your responses and love the fact that there are consequences for actions in the upper school. I like also Greg's idea, as well.
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Permalink Reply by Jesse Hake on
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All of the candid feedback regarding lunch detentions has been very helpful. After reviewing each one and conferring with Joe, Robyn and Gloria, I have decided upon the following guidelines. (This is a plan for the consistent and workable application of policy. As with all of our plans, this will be subject to review in the future.)
Purpose of lunch detentions: To hold students accountable in the minor issues of daily life together at CCA by providing a simple and modest consequence that administrators and teachers can apply consistently.
Teachers understand that they are to exercise grace and wisdom in each case, encouraging and supporting students as they hold them to our school standards.
At lunch detentions, adult supervisors will read a short Bible passage with students, pray with them, encourage them to spend this time in fruitful reflection, and expect them to remain quietly in their seats during the duration of the period. For the last ten minutes, students may read quietly from leisure material provided or approved by the supervisor. (Students may not complete school work or use laptops.) Just prior to dismissal, the supervisor or a student volunteer will close with prayer.
We are committed to communicating our expectations to students and parents clearly and in multiple forms. Students should know about waiting in the lobby and multipurpose room before 7:45 in the morning; about reporting to home rooms, classes and study halls on time; about dismissal procedures such as remaining in the lobby as they wait for their bus to arrive; and about the need to sign out whenever they have explicit permission to leave the building. Students should also be familiar with our published uniform guidelines. (Uniform specifics and other student expectations can be found in the Upper School Student Handbook which was distributed early in the year or on the CCA Website.)
I am maintaining records of each detention and will strive to keep communication open with students and parents.
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