Class discipline

[Beanbagz]

One week into the new school year there's already been a few issues with a disruptive child in my DC's class.

The teacher has decided that she's going to set a timer going every time there is messing about and this time will be deducted from playtime for all the children.

But that's not really fair on the well behaved children who are no trouble and who quietly get on with their lessons is it? Should i say something? Is it a bit early on in the term to be complaining?

I guess she is hoping a bit of peer pressure may do the trick where adult instruction seems to have failed. Perhaps the child is playing up because others find his or her behaviour funny? They will obviously find it all a lot less amusing if it's going to lead to missed playtimes.

Chill.

Your DC will be fine if he misses 1 minute of break time.

Count yourself lucky that you're not the one getting phone calls from school complaining about your child's behaviour.

i think she's daft. she'll end up with 30 kids misbehaving instead of 1.

Our school did similar - all punished for the behaviour of one or two kids. Missed PE if any talking when getting changed. I think the kids that are disruptive should miss out so they understand consequences. Having all the kids suffer just gives the disruptive kids more power.

Peer pressure used to work because students who hadn't done anything wrong would, franlky, get the ones who had alone and make them behave. Now that would be frowned upon. It is a sloppy way of disciplining children - and simply teaches them that adults are vindictive, irrational and to be disliked. It also teaches them that they have zero power, and that good behaviour is pointless because they will get screwed over by 'little Jimmy who can't stil still' anyway.

Thanks for all your replies.

I think must have had a good day yesterday as DC didn't complain of being kept in. I've decided that i won't say anything just yet and shall see how the next few weeks go.

My concern however if that the child involved will not show any remorse. It's not like this is a new problem (DC is in Y3) and sucessive teachers don't seem to have dealt with it. I have been on a few trips with the class and seen first hand just how disruptive the child can be.