Nip it in the Bud

Wrapping Up Another Year

Each year in late May or early June after my teachers have left for summer vacation, I work with my office ladies (Susan and Gayle) to "wrap up the year."  What does that mean - to wrap up a year?  Well over the next 5 days we are finishing up class lists for next year, getting the calendar for 17-18 buttoned down, revising the Student/Family Handbook for 17-18, completing attendance and discipline reports, ensuring that we have up-to-date family contact information, finishing up all of the financial reports, and getting the building ready for deep cleaning over the summer months.

I especially love sorting through the office discipline referrals.  I always ponder over my top two favorites from the last school year.  Here they are for the 2016-2017 school year - names are changed (of course).

Fifth Grade Girl:

"Mary is starting rumors about who likes who and who is going out with each other - this is after many warnings to stop the gossip train."

First Grade Boy:

"In one day's time Johnny told a group of boys to 'sniff his butt,' and brought his father's chewing tobacco to school and was bragging about it."

I love working and learning in an elementary school environment.  It is like a little microcosm of society.  Children learn so much from simply being around each other - life skills that will serve them in all of their relationships throughout their lives.

Several teachers and fellow principals have asked me to start recording some funny exchanges that I have had with students in discipline scenarios over the years.  Here are a couple of my all time favorites - you just can't make this stuff up!

A student (we'll call him Frankie) was sent to me for repeated behavior disruptions in the classroom. After a visit with me about respect, I had him spend a bit of time in an area in the back of the office which I have named SAT (Stop and Think).  

SAT has accrued quite a reputation as a place you do not want to go.  It is very boring with just 2 plain study carrels and stools without backs on them - because one thing you can not do in SAT is slouch.  There is nothing on the walls and the blinds to the window are closed - no stimulus whatsoever.  Wow - you actually have to stop and think about what you are doing and what you might do differently after returning to class.  I have accumulated several essays on anything under the sun that a child might be sent to me for.  I actually started this book of essays while still at Wester Elementary in Lubbock, Texas.  Since then I have added several - some of my teachers and assistants have contributed to this very handy book that I use regularly.  Here are a few of the essays to give you an idea of what a child might have to copy when they are sent to SAT.

Cheating

I understand that cheating is not allowed at Mortensen Elementary School.  Cheating is defined as behaving dishonestly.  When I cheat to win a game, I am not playing fair with the other person.  Also, when I cheat on my school work, I am not showing my teacher what I truly know.  I need to do my own work and not copy answers from other people or from the book.  When I cheat I am not being responsible for my learning at school.  From now on I will never cheat again.  I will apologize for my actions, and I will learn a very important lesson from this.  I will take responsibility and not cheat again at Mortensen Elementary School.

Making Good Choices

Every day we have to make choices about our behavior.  Most of the time we make good choices but sometimes we make a bad choice.  Examples of good choices are:  

• Being kind to others
• Following classroom and school rules for positive behavior
• Using polite words instead of hitting to solve problems
• Trying my hardest to do my best work
• Turning in my school work on time

Examples of bad choices are:

• Stealing
• Lying
• Being mean to others
• Hitting, kicking, pinching others
• Running away from home or school
• Being disrespectful to a teacher or other students in class

It is important to make good choices, even if I am angry or upset.  It helps to STOP and THINK before I make a bad choice.  I can stop to take a few slow, deep breaths and think about what might happen if I make a bad choice.  I will try my hardest to make good choices for my behavior in the future.

My All Time Favorite SAT Essay

Now - my all time favorite SAT Essay is found on page 34.  I copied it out of a civics text book from the 1960's.  I am very sorry that I do not have the proper citations.  I would love to give credit to the individual who wrote this essay because it has curbed irresponsible behavior in countless students who have been sent to me over the years.  The essay itself has quite a reputation of its own.  If students are repeat offenders, they often say to me,"Please Mrs. Hankins - not page 34!"  

If you had to copy this essay, would you learn your lesson?

Responsibility

There are many ways in which an irresponsible individual may interrupt classroom procedures or disturb his/her fellow students.  These would include chewing gum, throwing paper, pencils, etc., talking out of turn, obviously not paying attention, whispering to other students making unnecessary noise, refusing to follow instructions, talking back to the teacher, giggling, writing notes, marking on furniture, coming in to class late, punching other students with pencils or other objects, violating rules of safety which may possibly endanger the well being of self or others, and many other infractions too numerous to mention.  

Some students (the minority) might question how all of these actions are interpreted as misbehavior. For an example, let us discuss the most common infraction, that of talking out of turn.   While the talker usually finds his/her words to be very important at the time, most of the people in the class do not.  Most students want to learn, both to increase knowledge and to make good grades.  The teacher is the most knowledgeable person in the room on a given subject, and all students should devote their full attention to what he or she has to say.  (Even substitute teachers, often derided as mere baby-sitters, are qualified teachers, and should be given the respect due any adult or teacher in the classroom setting.)  If a student is talking out of turn, the other students are distracted from what the teacher is trying to accomplish; therefore, nobody benefits.  The teacher cannot teach and the students cannot learn.  Most people find that the more they listen to others, the more they will learn and then be able to discuss at a more appropriate time.  If a student will listen better in class, he/she will be able to speak intelligently about the subject with his/her family or friends.

Just as there are necessary laws that govern the citizens of a nation, there are necessary rules and policies within every large organization, including the public schools.  No one wishes to impose regulations on a group simply for the sake of forcing its members to do something they do not wish to do, or for the sake of not allowing something that is enjoyable, but rather so that the purposes of the organization may be achieved.  Nothing will be asked of you at this school that is not reasonable or necessary.  (Be advised that your teachers are not at your beck and call to explain, daily, the reasonableness or necessity of the rules.)  We do want you to do your work well, succeed, and enjoy school, but we must insist that you behave.  This means conforming to rules and regulations that pertain to school, as well as those that are required of you by the society in which you live.  

It is true that some of our most cooperative students, who are truly interested in doing well in school and learning to be useful citizens, are occasionally guilty of some of the infractions just mentioned.  Frequent infractions, however, place  one in the minority - the category of people who do not want to learn or accomplish goals.  You have not been placed into this category yet, and perhaps copying this paper will serve to encourage you to make a strong effort to improve your behavior.

Whew - I think that some of our elected officials need to read and copy this essay before they go back to work next week!

Back to Frankie

Now - I want to get back to Frankie!  He was in SAT and I went to check on him.  He had written with a pencil on the walls of the study carrels.  Never mind what he wrote - let's just say that it was not complimentary of his principal or of his school.  He also, apparently, did not learn his phonics rules in first and second grade because his writing was inundated with misspellings.  I told him that we would be going to find the facility manager for some cleanser and a rag and that he would be cleaning off his scribbles.  He and I found Mr. Alberto and the cleaning materials.  We went back to his carrel and I told him to use the spray on the pencil markings.  It was then apparent to me that he did not know how to use a spray bottle.  I was rather amazed and then proceeded to teach him how to push the pump down on the bottle.  I then told him to scrub it clean.  With a limp wrist, he started lightly rubbing on the markings.  I was thinking that he was being insolent, so I said, "You better use some elbow grease to clean that off, and it better be gone when I get back."  I left him for a couple minutes and when I came back, it took me a minute to understand what he was doing.  

He had the rag on his elbow and was trying to rub it on the walls of the carrel.

That was elbow grease to him.  That day I realized that we have a big problem in our society - our kids are not being taught some very basic life skills.  They don't know how to use a broom or a mop.  Washing dishes or a car by hand are foreign skills to many of them.  Ironing or sewing on a button - forget it!  Parents!  We need you to teach your children these skills!  The future of our society depends on it.

Nip It - Just Nip It!

Now - finally.  Another student was sent to me for "heaven only knows" what for.  I think I had already had somewhat of a day, and I do recall giving this student "what for."  When I came around the corner, my assistant, Linda, was laughing uncontrollably - albeit silently, with tears coming down her cheeks.  She said, "Do you realize that you said 'nip it in the bud' five times?"  

Linda then just had to send me the link to Barney Fife declaring to "nip it in the bud" as only he can do!  Enjoy!

Barney Fife Nip it in the Bud

OK - I will admit that I do come from the old school of expecting certain basic tenets of decency from our students.  It's my little way of possibly influencing the future.  As printed in our Mortensen Student/Parent Handbook - "Good discipline, like many good habits, must be taught.  Parents are encouraged to reinforce positive behavior expectations at home and insist upon appropriate behavior at school."

So - what is it that YOU need to "Nip in the Bud?"  

If you don't know, then you are welcome to be placed in SAT with an appropriate essay.