July 22, 2008
Department of missing the point
A Norfolk headteacher has said there have been no exclusions from his school since he started rewarding pupils with chocolate for good behaviour. Dr Andrew Sheppard began the scheme in 2005, since when exclusion days at Redcastle Furze Primary in Thetford have dropped from 65 a year to zero…
In September 2005, Dr Sheppard pledged to give all 240 pupils a bar of chocolate if they made it to the half time break without any exclusions. The scheme proved so successful it was extended term by term. Since then discos, picnics and Easter eggs have been handed out.
Genius. But:
The School Food Trust said it would be better to use healthy food as a reward.
Oh dear.
Just out of interest, what is an ‘exclusion’?
Posted by: David White | July 22nd, 2008 at 9:22 am | Report this commentAs teachers, they should know better. It seems to me that Dr. Sheppard has no interest in his pupil´s well being, only in a temporary boost to their marks at school.
PS: Its a punishment, like putting the child in a corner of the class because of his/her bad behaviour.
Posted by: Rafael Nieto | July 22nd, 2008 at 9:35 am | Report this commentOh dear indeed. I don’t think one bar of chocolate every half term will do much harm!
To see the harm of not getting a decent education, the channel 4 programme last night “Can’t read, Can’t write” was a good place to start.
Posted by: Rob | July 22nd, 2008 at 9:43 am | Report this commentChildren learn far more from encouragement and praise than constant criticism and punishment!
If a Child Lives with Criticism
-Dorothy L. Nolte
If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
Posted by: Jane | July 22nd, 2008 at 9:52 am | Report this commentIf children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.
If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to be shy.
If children live with jealousy, they learn what envy is.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
If children live with tolerance, they learn to be patient.
If children live with encouragement, they learn to be confident.
If children live with praise, they learn to appreciate.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with acceptance, they learn to find love in the world.
If children live with recognition, they learn to have a goal.
If children live with sharing, they learn to be generous.
If children live with honesty and fairness, they learn what truth and justice are.
If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those around them.
If children live with friendliness, they learn that the world is a nice place in which to live.
If children live with serenity, they learn to have peace of mind.
With what are your children living?
A quick Google (well, two) and I found that an “exclusion” is the same as an “expulsion” in North American educational jargon. These are temporary suspension of school attendance and activities for serious misbehaviour.
Posted by: Brant Boucher | July 22nd, 2008 at 2:55 pm | Report this commentThe School Food Trust is too much. There is no such thing as healthy or unhealthy food, junk or non-junk food. Anything taken in moderation according to each food’s type and limitation is good for health.
I ever read a medical article saying that eating too much fiber is not good. All must be in moderation. Chocolate contains healthy ingredients for heart and cholesterol level.
Posted by: Layminto Jubilee | July 23rd, 2008 at 2:19 am | Report this comment@ Layminto
While it’s definitely possible that the human body can cope with certain “bad” aspects of a diet, I find it hard to believe that corn syrup or hydrogenated fats are GOOD for you in any quantity.
Posted by: Andrew | July 24th, 2008 at 12:45 am | Report this commentGiven the comments we may be starting to detract from the main point. A lot of things in life involve bargaining and incentives. If someone offered me a chocolate bar I would make sure I came to school everyday, it is a good idea but I think it should not be overused. i.e. extended to every term. Incentives should be used only when really really needed otherwise children will learn only to do something because they receive something from it rather than learning that the action itself entails duty. It doesnt matter whether they give chocolates or apples (because they aren’t giving much), the point is is that we have to be careful it does not compromise the importance of discipline. It is a “sweet” idea though.
Posted by: Shivani Bhammer | July 25th, 2008 at 4:09 pm | Report this commentGiven the comments we may be starting to detract from the main point. A lot of things in life involve bargaining and incentives. If someone offered me a chocolate bar I would make sure I came to school everyday, it is a good idea but I think it should not be overused. i.e. extended to every term. Incentives should be used only when really really needed otherwise children will learn only to do something because they receive something else from it rather than that the action entails duty. It doesnt matter whether they give chocolates or apples (because it’s just one a term), the point is is that we have to be careful it does not compromise the importance of discipline. It is a “sweet” idea though.
Posted by: Shivani Bhammer | July 25th, 2008 at 4:10 pm | Report this commentIf children live with criticism, they learn to condemn……………..If children live with serenity, they learn to have peace of mind.
Care to provide proof of any of those statements?
Posted by: Feral Kid | July 28th, 2008 at 2:28 pm | Report this comment