I think it's better to try to help kids and families, before punishing them by sending them to D- or Juvi schools.
That was my point. I don't think that we as a society care to try that venue as often as PUT THEM AWAY.....where they will stay and learn a lesson. not necessarily, BT
Perhaps that is the problem. Schools are not designed to be social services agencies. They are designed to educate the citizens of the future.
I am not saying you shouldn't take a personal interest in a troubled student. Good on you if you do. What i am saying is when their behavior affects the other students in a class and takes away from their learning opportunities, then something else needs to be done.
We don't think twice about removing cancerous tumors from a body so that the disease doesn't spread.
Why should troublesome students be any different?
Setup a branch office of child services at D school, if need be.
Well, BT, it's like asking a doctor to heal only those who have the most potential for healing and thus life....a long life....as opposed to caring for a person longterm, let's say....or healing someone who ends up only taxing the Dr.'s time, and possible reputation.
We care about individuals in this world....albeit not a perfect one, and we must attempt to reach every mind--not just the mind that has an exemplary ability to listen, learn, and focus.
I'll admit, my job would be a hell of a lot easier if I could only teach those kids who want* to learn, those who have little, few or no social behavioral problems, but that's in a
Walgreen's world...By the by.....I want to say that I was a bit put off by your statement last night, and believe that I over reacted. You weren't insulting teachers. That's not your style. Having strong opinions is your style and I had forgotten that. I welcome the chance to debate, discuss argue with you, and I guess the old Cynthia from years ago came out...out of a ting of anxt.
Anyway....I think that the institutions set out to "help" those troubled children are a dime a dozen and if it becomes that easy to get a kid into one....we would be referring kids right and left if they pee on a wall, or slam their fists into another's face. (happened in my class last year)
I have taught children of parents who are full blown gang member, but to see the potential in those chidren's faces, and their hearts each time they walk into the classroom....it would break your own heart, BT if we did what you recommend here.
It is difficult to teach a child from such brokeness but if we had more funding for that sort of class within the system, for example....A dedicated BD teacher with an assistant in a class of 5-8 Behavior Disorder kids, has potential for something...and something is better than throwing the baby out with the bath water.
If done right, I believe the child has more opportunities in the PS system than in the D home etc.....
Each day for a BD type kid is just that DAY TO DAY. IF a problemed child has 4 pretty good days out of 7 because the teacher has put a system in place to enhance learning...that's a win!
If the student started out with 0 good days and by trimester's end reached 4/7 consistently good, solid capable self motivating days, there's something to be said for that.
The other students in a classroom who are "normal" socially, aren't as negatively affected as we might think, in the long run.
Most children actually learn from watching an adult set up boundaries, circumstances for learning, show a sense of caring even though no one else would.....a socialization isn't alway about "getting along"...IT's witnessing life in its reality.
Those "difficult ones' provide negative models, but who's to say that the rest of the kids don't gain something from that experience. Children are resilient little buggers....and they learn in spite of many of us, sometimes, too.
YOu can't say that school is only about academia. Children are social beings, with tears, fears, joys and runny noses....all of them.
Teachers, citizens, you, me, we all should take care to look out for, nurture, support, care for a weaker person in need.....children or the homeless, or the elderly or the sick etc......but we don't.
Most people don't care. Let the gov. take care of that problem.
Depending on the severity of the social problems is also part of this problem and the equation doesn't add up to one size fits all.....so to blanketly say that we should send those kids to another place and space in time where they should sit and rethink their bad deeds....is a crock.
It's a tough job to educate. It's a tougher job to do nothing at all for others, imo.