I always knew about the traffic light system for behaviour at school, I didn't agree with it, but accepted it as most schools seem to subscribe to it. But recently I've found out that when a child's behavioural status changes, they are made to get up in front of the whole class and change their behaviour status themselves i.e. they have to write their own name in the amber or red circle.
I did request a meeting about this, which hasn't yet happened due to one thing or another. But tonight I found out that as well as having to put themselves in a different behaviour category in front of everyone, they also get sent to 'the wall' in the playground for 5 minutes at break time (again in front of everyone). I found this out because my daughter said in the car that she never wants to go to school again (she loves school), I asked why and she told me. She said that today, even though she was on amber, she had managed to 'avoid the wall', but was still embarrassed.
I am furious, we work really hard to reduce shame and never use a shame based approach to discipline - even though we have strict boundaries, we try our hardest to discipline/give consequences appropriately. What's worse is that most of the transgressions from many of the children seem to be fidgeting and talking - they are seven years old!
Because the discipline is all done so publicly, every parent ends up knowing which child has been on amber and red for the week, and I can imagine them telling their children to stay away from the naughty kids, thus isolating the children further. I was informed the other week that my son had been placed on amber by another parent!
I have sent school an email asking them to cease the shame based approach and why, I have also emailed the virtual head...what else can I do? Up to now the school has been brilliant, but a change in leadership did occur recently.