>What do you do if they don't copy the list, and just want to
> sit there in the time out room every day, day after day? W
> hat then?
Fortunately, I have not yet had such an experience. In fact, I haven't had
to go beyond the time I've taken from one class to read over the rules and
expectations with all the students. Still, a great deal has to do with
one's building administrators and even board members. I don't give out
grades, I deliver what has been earned. If such students are interested in
only earning "F's" then I can accomodate. Not being allowed to infect the
other students or reward their negativity however is primary.
Part of getting these kids ready for the real world is not only encouraging
them to understand how aesthetics will add to the quality of life, but that
the world rewards those that put forth effort. Don't show up for work a few
days, and you'll be shown the door. Its like someone here said, you can't
save them all. The main thing is, a message has to be understood by the
rest of the student body that such behavior will not be tolerated nor
rewarded. If an example is necessary to be made of a few to get the
attention of the many, than sobeit.
I've been in schools where administrators are not supportive, and in fact
would only like to increase the likelihood of a teacher's failure as
justification to being targeted for nonrenewal. In such climates and
especially with art being an elective, this is not fun. If this indeed is
the kind of situation going on in your school....we need to discuss more
than what to do with a few disruptive students.
On the other hand, the next step at my school would be to have the parents
come in for a discussion. Our administrators like documentation in order to
save their "tails" so-to-speak, so things are written up and put into
student records. Parents on the other hand here for the most part do not
want anything negative in their children's files...so are very willing to
come in and discuss the issue. In fact, we more and more are seeing parents
wanting to be called right away, and will leave their place of work and show
up at school to deal with "disruptive Johnny" themselves.
We've had it pretty tough the past couple years, because in a small
school...we experienced the worst of possible scenarios last year, when a
number of students committed suicide, and one died by drowning. Oddly
enough, the general student body understood a need of tightening the
reigns...the value of more dialogue, community involvement, etc; The bottom
line comes down to what level of value administrators place on the arts, on
their staff/faculty, and their student body. With more and more demands
from the state on proven levels of growth...there is pressure to nip anarchy
and disinterest among the students in the butt. However, having been in
such a school once myself, my heart goes out to anyone where administration
has little interest to support art or general discipline needs. -Larry
