Artifact M.

5 (Activity 2B)
Activity: Participate in conferences dealing with student discipline.
Total Time: 5 Hours
Artifact: Meeting notes.
Description: I participated in two separate disciplinary conferences/incidents, both of which
were dealt with by the superintendent/elementary school principal. One of them occurred in the
elementary school, and one of them occurred in the high school. I was more of a passive
observer in the disciplinary process, but I did discuss the incidents with the superintendent.
Reflection: Dealing with student discipline is probably not the most enjoyable part of being a
principal, but it is necessary. I believe that the disciplinary action should always match the
crime, but that is also how I handle my classroom. It does no good to punish students unfairly or
to use discipline that doesnt help deter future poor decisions. In the elementary school situation,
the appropriate action was taken, notifying the parents about the photographs that were being
viewed and then prohibiting the students from using electronics in school for the rest of the year.
By notifying the parents, the goal is that they address the problem there in a way that deters their
kids from doing similar things in the future. By eliminating electronics, the students are
constantly reminded of what they did for the short remainder of the year. Its something that
shouldnt be quickly forgotten in future years of school.
In the high school, drinking alcohol underage is a police matter, so calling them seems to
have been a good decision. Also, by having the police officer at the school, it sends a message to
the rest of the students that drinking in the school wont be tolerated and may be a more serious
offense than otherwise thought. Calling the students parents was also an obvious move, as they
need to be notified of what their son did and what the repercussions are likely to be. Giving the
student out-of-school suspension is almost unavoidable. If drinking in school doesnt warrant
out-of-school suspension, then what does? Even though students sometimes prefer to be at
home, sometimes the school needs a break from a student that does something of this magnitude.
Keeping the student in school may distract other students from their schoolwork, and it also
sends a message that the offense wasnt very serious. The choice to make half of the suspension
time in-school also seems reasonable. The student was cooperative and would be spending the
in-school time doing standardized testing. By no means was being in school taking tests a
reward, yet it did get something done that needed to be done. So overall, the situation was
handled pretty well. I cant make any particular suggestions for improvement, as it seemed
reasonable to me.