Taking off the gloves.

I work with 8th and 9th grade students in the disciplinary division of a middle school. That, in itself, is a bit of irony since I am not known for my strengths as a disiplinarian. Rather, the opposite. Oddly enough, it seems to work well here. Most of the students come to me because they have been reprimanded for instances of fighting. Fighting is very popular at this age and although it seems to diminish when the students move on to high school, it appears as if it is a rite of passage that simply cannot be avoided on the journey to adulthood. They love to fight. My job, specifically, is to administer consequenses. Horrible, regret-inducuing consequenses. More often than not, though, the students report that they enjoy spending time in my classroom and look forward to revisiting. It would appear that I am defeating my purpose. But not really. The truth is, the students who are the most common repeat offenders are going to be repeat offenders, regardless of the quality of their stay in the suspension room. Traditional punishment doesn't work. It is never my intent to make the suspension room a comfortable place, but rather, a safe place- a haven. We don't fight here. I don't fight. If a student refuses to co-operate, I infuse a lesson into the refusal. I give them choices. You may do this or you may do this but you may not create a hostile or disruptive environment for the other students. In return, no one may create that for you. I do not challenge them with my authority. In fact, I am fast to point out that I have many weaknesses myself, that my life is constantly a struggle and sometimes, I need to accept that there is plenty of room for improvement. I make lots of mistakes. Sometimes, I have to remove a student. But rather than being a badge of honor that they can display to fellow students, it presents itself as more of embarrassment. It's pretty difficult to get kicked out of the In House room and who would want to? There are several students who stop by the classroom every day, just to say hello. Some ask to stay. Maybe that's not the way it should be but I don't hear the administration complaining. I treat these people the way that I would like to be treated. And at the end of the day I know what I want-a day that I don't have to fight.