MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Shelby County Schools wants to know what parents think about discipline in the classroom. The district is preparing to hold its annual Parent Input Sessions to get feedback on its policies.
“They get wrote up or they get yelled at,” said East High School senior Lajaneese Russell, sharing what happens to students at her school who misbehave.
She said teachers raise their voices “all the time.”
The district was unable to interview Tuesday about the Parent Input Sessions, however a spokesperson said the district wants parents to share what works and what does not.
Right now, district policy lists these forms of discipline: parent/administrator conference, confiscation of items, loss of privileges, before/after school detention/Saturday school, suspension from the bus, in-school suspension, out-of-school suspension, expulsion, and remand/alternative placement.
Even though corporal punishment is technically legal in Tennessee, the district does not allow it.
“I don’t think there should be corporal punishment or anything, but I do think there should be more discipline going on,” said parent Matrine Dixon.
She said her daughter will enroll in SCS next year. She said instilling discipline in students begins at home.
Some schools in North Carolina are testing out No Nonsense Nurturing in the classroom. It is a style of teaching where instructors do not say please or thank you. They plainly tell students what is expected.
Some SCS schools have students with behavior problems.
Still, Russell is not sure that style would fly here.
“If teachers want their students to behave, I feel like they should say please, or they shouldn’t become so hard,” she said.
There are five scheduled Parent Input Sessions:
Thursday, January 21 at Whitehaven High School (5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.)
Monday, February 1 at Raleigh Egypt High School (5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.)
Wednesday, February 3 at TLA Multipurpose Room (12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.)
Wednesday, February 3 at Kirby High School (5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.)
Thursday, February 4 at Cordova High School (5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.)
SCS said parents may contact the its Policy Department at 416-4730.
