Education and discipline can work together

When authority trumps education, everyone loses.

In looking at our education system, we… When authority trumps education, everyone loses.

In looking at our education system, we should consider that in focusing too much on discipline, kids lose out on other important lessons. Perhaps that is why, according to a 2004 survey by the University of Connecticut, 36 percent of high school students believe newspapers should be required to seek government approval of each story before publishing, a truly frightening figure.

K-12 schools often care more about control and discipline than education and personal growth. In doing this, they make mistakes with the minds of children and adolescents all over. Administrators spend their time enforcing nit-picky policies, writing out little slips of punishment and handing out detentions and suspensions. Sometimes all that may be necessary is teaching students why it’s in their interest to behave and, at times, give them the benefit of the doubt. These kinds of tactics used by K-12 schools do much more harm than good in educating students.

Most recently, a Tribune-Review article pointed out that Marlene Whitby, a principal at an elementary school an hour south of Pittsburgh, helped demonstrate this flaw in our educational system. At the William Penn School in Monongahela, Pa., a third-grade girl was accused of stealing $5 from another girl on her school bus.

Logically, the next step involves finding out if the accusation was in fact true. If true, educating this 8-year-old girl about morals and trying to teach her wrong from right would be the correct move in teaching her a lesson. This tactic would have been effective in not hurting her self-esteem or demeaning her, unlike what the principal actually did. Discipline does not need to take priority over education.

Principal Whitby dragged the student through classrooms with other students in them. She labeled her as both a thief and liar. This type of humiliation discipline takes place every day. Humiliation is unacceptable in all educational situations; it simply does not help, teach or build character. It only breaks it down.

It turned out that the student’s accuser later changed her story about the $5 taken from her.

The logical answer would be an issued apology by this principal. People do make mistakes. Ryan White, the girl’s father, asked for a simple apology. Principal Whitby refused.

Some principals treat others as subordinates and run institutions in a fascist manner instead of bringing across the democratic ideals we here in America cherish. The more power these administrators gain, the more they lose sight of the reason we send kids to school in the first place. They arrive there to learn, not to obey.

The school district itself did not help in dealing with the situation. Jane Milner, the district’s communications director, said that, “The district does not discuss personnel or discipline issues.” This was a pathetic political answer to a situation that warrants serious attention.

This education system failed to even respond to serious questions posed to it.

Although this is just one example from one elementary school, these incidents take place all across the nation. Schools must have accountability for the lessons taught in disciplining students.

As for this principal, it’s a shame she did not receive the proper schooling on the goals of an administrator. She needs to come to the realization that her job involves teaching, not giving commands, holding power and embarrassing 8-year-olds.

Although it is not completely necessary that she lose her job, we should help her learn a lesson. An apology would be a good start for her. Accepting it would help. And public humiliation is not needed. Expectations must be raised for our administrators, teachers and students.

After all, with low expectations come low results. If our schools’ focus remains on discipline, we will end up with a generation of soldiers following orders in place of the thinkers our world needs.

Tell Scott your K-12 stories of getting in trouble with the principal at sdn2@pitt.edu.