Monday, November 17, 2008

a quick note on sentences

The other day Des had a sentence in school for running in the halls-he had to do the Wedding March(walk very slowly) and wear a sign that said "Don't run in the halls". At first the sign bothered me because it seemed like a shaming sort of punishment but then the kids explained that it's to help them remember not to run. There are also little signs that say "I have a cleaning job today" because forgetting to do your cleaning job is quite common. As is just flat out not doing it.

The sentences generally fit the infraction. The kids say littering, running, rowdy or dangerous activity, not doing cleaning jobs and being noisy in the quiet area are the most common charges. The sentences are usually a cleaning job or an extra cleaning job for littering and being restricted from certain areas or restricted to certain areas for noisy or rowdy behavior. Not putting toys or art supplies away usually results in being decertified for those items. Most of the stuff is pretty basic: if you make a mess, clean it up. Don't want to clean it up? Then you don't get to use that stuff anymore.

Repeat offenders will have longer sentences and then eventually suspension. People have been suspended for not doing cleaning jobs. Mostly suspension/expulsion is for more serious, I would say, anti social infractions-fighting, bullying, stealing stuff like that. JC recommends suspension but school meeting has to vote on it. And if it is an indefinite suspension they have to vote to let you back in too. It's pretty intense. That doesn't happen very often though.

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