Judicial Discipline

From WikEd

Judicial Discipline:

Description and Definition: This term was created by theorist and writer Forrest Gathercoal. "It suggest that the teaching of core amendments to the constitution as a basis for establishing classroom and school rules helps the students mature morally and prepares them for citizenship". (page166) "The judicious classroom will present a climate of acceptance whereby the teacher focuses on maintaining the student/teacher relationship. The teacher will also teach the class constitutional rights, either by having the students create their own judicious classroom rules or, if limited by short classroom periods, announcing rules founded on these same democratic amendments." Pages 186-187 (See "Solving Discipline and Classroom Management Problems", by Charles H. Wolfgang). Judicial Discipline shows how to use a legal framework for setting up porcedures that will work in book reports a democratic classroom environment and that are based on the priciples of our national Bill of Rights.

1 Application in Classrooms and Similar Settings
2 Evidence of Effectiveness
3 Critics and their Rationale
4 Alternative Explanations Due to Diversity Considerations
5 Signed "Life Experiences", Testimonies, and Stories
6 References and Websites

[edit] Application in Classrooms and Similar Settings

Each teacher has some sort of rules and consequnces that are gone over usually on the first day of school. Some teachers even go over the rules a few times during the school year say after a long break, or at the beginning of a new quarter.

For judicial discipline to work students must also be participants by coming up with some of their own rules. This provides ownership to one's behavior and allows students a sense of authority.

Schools also provide student handbooks which provide much detail for misbehavior and ways to effectively handle it. In certain schools students are required to read through the handbook and then sign off stating that they understand the consequences for their behavior.

[edit] Evidence of Effectiveness

Judicial discipline isn't a model that gives information on how to handle cetain issues in the class. Judicial discipline uses our "legal rights and laws" to create rules (Wolfgang).

[edit] Critics and their Rationale

Judicial discipline doesn't provide teachers with what to do if something happens. Judicial discipline is therefore preventative measures by using the legal framework to help foster a democratic classroom. Teachers must abide by the laws of the Bill of Rights instead of making their own rules based upon values.

"Historically, most school practices were created to serve the good of all, with only limited if any concern for individual rights" (Wolfgang, 191).

[edit] Alternative Explanations Due to Diversity Considerations

Just as every person in America is to follow the Bill of Rights, students must do the same in school. We do not have specific laws for African Americans, Hispanics, and so on. Even though our society and our schools are very diverse, some that have 50 languages spoken our students need to understand that they are held to the laws of the United States.

[edit] Signed "Life Experiences", Testimonies, and Stories

Our school requires all students to read the student handbook with their parents and then they have to sign a form stating that the handbook has been read. When students break a rule they are to be accountable for their actions. That is why I have a student handbook in my class. If a student plagarizes an assignment I show them the handbook and ask them to read me the consequences. The student handbook is equivalent to our Constituition. The handbook discusses both the student's rights, teacher's rights, and the parent's rights.

We even have rules pertaining to after school sports and activities. Stduents are expected to follow those rules if they want to participate in anything.