TOMMIE SAYLOR: A word to the wise when it comes to setting the course

“Education is a shared commitment between dedicated teachers, motivated students and enthusiastic parents with high expectations.” 

Bob Beauprez

By Tommie Saylor

Kennedy High School Principal

Habits, be it for good or for ill, are easy to establish.  For this reason, I beseech you to develop your classroom rules and procedures, placing a tremendous amount of though behind your reasons, purpose and expected outcomes of each rule and procedure.  Then, to ensure your expected outcomes are achieved, make sure you specifically, in great detail and without ambiguity or inference, present your expectations to your classes and then immediately check for understanding. 

When this has been accomplished, and you are absolutely certain that everyone completely understands what you expect, prepare yourself for the first challenge.  I am not saying that you need to “make an example” of someone, yet understand that the first challenge will come, and your reaction to this challenge will send a message to your students that will set the tone for the rest of the trimester, and perhaps the rest of the school year.  When this challenge comes, immediately stop what you are doing, because the few minutes you spend correcting the situation will pay dividends “down the road”, for if handled properly, the number and magnitude of future challenges to your rules and procedures will be minor and few in number. 

So, stop what you are doing, face the violator, and follow the procedures you formally explained to your students without showing anger or frustration, yet remaining positive, polite, and respectful.

If, according to your rules and procedures, the violation warrants a detention, then inform the students that he/she has violated the procedure and that you will be turning into the office a Disciplinary Referral, as well as making a phone call home; and then follow through. 

It does not matter who violates the rules first, be it an “A” student or an “E” student, a well-behaved “good” kid or a misunderstood kid, your reaction must be the same, swift, emotionless, consistent and immediate.  You must ensure that the students understand, see and observe that your rules apply the same to everyone, and that everyone is equally accountable.

Everyone evaluates early challenges to the system. Very student is watching what will result from this first challenge, and the students in all your other classes will soon hear of this incident.  Simply, you are in a “must win” situation, and must do so while leaving intact the student’s dignity and sense of self-worth.

If you are able to do this through the first week of school, then the second, then the third, you will have established an organized “rule of law” climate within your classroom where students feel that the rules apply evenly and fairly to everyone, paving the way for a culture of learning to permeate throughout.  Remember, regardless of what the students say, they feel safe and secure behind a well-established web of rules and procedures; essentially, students crave order, and want to know that the rules apply evenly and fairly to all.

 With this, let’s not forget the building level rules/procedures that helps to maintain order throughout the school.  Do not be the weak link, do not be the one that students say, “well so-and-so doesn’t do that” or “so-and-so lets us.” Failure on your part to uphold our most basic procedures, to uphold our Pass procedures, Hall Sweeps, ID Cards and the like makes life harder for your colleagues, destroys the students sense of security within the rules, and breeds chaos.

Simply, taking the easy way out by ignoring violations of our very own rules/procedures may seem like the most diligent path at the moment, yet it cheapens us all in the long run.  Stand strong and stay the course in all your efforts. It will allow the habit of success to find you.

What starts here, changes the world.

Making Kennedy the school of choice. Excellence by design.