Punishments etc

[FaveNumberIs2]

Hi. I'm not sure if this is the case in all schools, but could you please, please not use reading as a punishment.

I've seen this too many times, children are made to sit outside the classroom or are made to miss break times and instead, are sat in a corner with a book.

There's nothing productive about it and it just makes the child hate reading.

As an author, I'm begging you, please find another way to punish children.

There's nothing productive about it and it just makes the child hate reading.

It is more productive than staring in to space during detention. Any evidence that it make children hate reading? Forcing them to do physics in detention doesn't make them hate physics so I'm not convinced of your premise.

You are assuming they're reading a book as a punishment. Sometimes kids stay in because they need to or want to and choose to read a book.

Sometimes kids stay in and have to read a book because refusing to take part in Guided Reading or messing about is exactly why they are missing play.

Sometimes kids stay in because they either need a safe space to calm down and a book helps with that.

Sometimes they stay in for a completely different reason and because teachers aren't complete arseholes, once they're done their task or playtime is nearly over , they're allowed to read for the last few minutes.

Sometimes kids stay in and read/do research because either they're unable to do it at home or they need it to finish/do their work.

Oh and we don't punish,we give consequences.

Trust me. I know all about consequences. In my experience, they don't work.

I've seen kids brought in from playtime and made to sit alone in the hall with a book. Many times, the book gets thrown across the hall floor, or it gets ignored in favour of nosying at what else is going in on the hall, until a teacher comes along and takes the child away.

So what I've seen is noting to do with research or finishing off work.

What should we use then instead of 'consequences' ? You say that they don't work, what's the alternative?

This appears a very specific complaint to a specific school, so maybe you should take it up with that school. 20 years a teacher, never seen reading as a consequence or punishment.

@ElizabethMainwaring

I wish I knew.

I think the whole system is flawed at the moment and I'm glad my children are now out of it, especially as they were both failed (one, massively) by the current education system.

That said, I don't think it's solely down to schools. I think the government and the way we are supposed to treat children as a whole, is flawed, and opens doors to children determining their upbringing rather than their parents/adults.

So I guess at the moment, the consequences currently in place are all we can do.

@pippitysqueakity

It possibly is. And it's possibly a consequence given by sa's at lunchtime rather than actual teachers. Something to keep the child "out of the way" until a more senior member of staff (or the child's class teacher) is available to deal with the situation.

So do you work in a school?

If I have been told to keep a child off the playground for fighting for example they will be spending break / lunchtime etc sitting in my classroom reading. I'm not going to be letting them play on iPads. It's not a punishment- the punishment is being off the playground the reading is do something productive while I eat my lunch and get ready for the afternoon

@Firstawake yes. But not the educational side.

@practicallyperfectwithprosecco

But do the children (I'm talking primary level) understand that the punishment is coming off the yard, or do they just think "oh poop, I have to go inside and read"

Isn't there something else they could do? Tidy shelves and exercise books, wash paint pots, pick up litter, sharpen pencils etc etc.

I also think it's quite crap that you then have to supervise them while you should be on your break.

Oh goodie, another expert who has never spent a day teaching.

I know where you are coming from op. When I was Head of English the PE/Games dept once sent a request to me for work as a consequence for pupils misbehaving in the gym. I put a stop to it after the first request. They had reading/writing tasks in their own subject over there, they were certainly not going to use mine as a consequence. It can be difficult enough motivating the less interested without the subject being used as a consequence. What annoyed me more was that as mine was a core subject my dept was teaching the whole of key stage 4 whether they were interested or not. They had no choice whereas their dept only had the kids at that stage who had actually chosen their subject. Apparently they didn't want to use their own resources because it might put the kids off their subject! Haha. Good try

@MidniteScribbler oh goodie, another person offering nothing but sarcasm.

I never said I was an expert. And yes, I've spent time teaching children.

@shiningstar2

Thank you for being the voice of reason. It must be disheartening to see your subject used as a punishment/consequence. I would feel like the pe dept were devaluing your subject.

And as you say, as it's a core subject and therefore compulsory, it needs to be promoted rather than dismissed.

The children would be well aware as the reason they were off the playground was their behaviour choices.

School policy is if playground exclusions happen children are reading or set work - I prefer not to do the latter as a - it needs to be marked and that's increasing my workload and b - if they don't understand it I then have to explain it and I'm supposed to be on my lunch break.

I vary between making them read or making them practice spellings or handwriting practice as none require teaching input.

Actually, if a child is sent in because of playground behaviour then the FIRST thing I do is send them to my book corner because they like it. I eat my lunch, they calm down, they'll read a newspaper, magazine, comic, picture book or book, and then we can talk. Often, in primary, we use reading (or being in a reading area) as a calming thing because it works. It's not a punishment.

Tidying, washing up etc are the monitors jobs and as such are much prized in my class! All hell would be let loose if these tasks were given to the 'naughty' children.

Oh goodie, another expert who has never spent a day teaching.

This. Maybe, as an author, you could stick to your own wheelhouse and not patronise teachers 🙄

@Nyon

I'm not patronising teachers.

You know nothing about me as an author with a different primary job.

I thought this was a place for discussion, take your snappiness elsewhere.

@FaveNumberIs2
What is your other primary job?

You have spend days teaching children-are you a teacher?

@fedup21

I'm a cook.

I've taught after school crafts in the past.

I don't think I could ever be a class teacher.

I’m snappy because I spent four years training to qualify - I am a specialist in education as well as my subject.
I’m snappy because I’ve spent ten years in teaching. I am a specialist in what I do.
I’m snappy because I am sick of those who acknowledge that they cannot be teachers lecturing those who do teach every day. Those who are specialists in what they do.

The myriad of reasons as to why children loathe reading is vast and complex and perhaps you should do some actual research before you attack and patronise hard working teachers who are frankly trying to do their best. Actual specialists. Not authors. Not school cooks. Not after school helpers.

@Nyon I am not nor have I ever lectured anyone on their job! So get the hell off your high horse and take your snappy ness elsewhere.

Good on you for training for 4 years. I worked hard for 11 and a half years gaining vast experience, knowledge, and qualifications to do the job I do.

And by the tone of your post, I'm guessing that some other parent/person/stranger pushes your buttons on a regular basis. I wonder if they get the same snappy reply.

How about you throw some statistics my way or tell me something useful rather than whipping my ass with your sharp words?

@phlebasconsidered that's a good point, about it being a calming environment. Would it be the children from your class that come in to you or any class?