kindness, respect

Ms. Schilperoort did not accurately portray the issue of discipline by failing to distinguish between "time-out" and "recess detention." Time-out is a widely understood term and is of short duration. It is appropriately used in families and schools.

Recess detention at Schmitz Park Elementary is assigned by teachers for misbehaviors like talking in class or failing to turn in homework. It consists of three recesses totaling 55 minutes. The student stands in a small yellow square, on display against a cold cement wall and is unable to move (leave the square, sit, squat etc) without incurring additional detentions. The student is not allowed to be productive, such as read or do homework. Talking/singing or the like will get you additional detentions.

I don't think you have to be a child psychologist to see that 55 minutes of boring, muscle aching stillness is not going to buy you a happy, focused student. Do you know any adults who would stand in a little square, silently, uselessly for 55 minutes? Probably not, and why should we subject our kids to this punishment? Does standing in a square and being bored to tears help you with your homework? Does standing in a square help you solve misbehaviors?

I think parents ought to be alarmed that although the school district and even Schmitz Park have policies that talk about respect, positive discipline and talking out problems, in reality that just may not happen. It takes a village to raise a child. I think the village needs to stand up and say, "we don't treat our kids that way." It was parents who stood up in the 70's and said no more corporal punishment. Let's push our schools up a notch and demand that they treat our kids with kindness and respect.

Here is an interesting website with practical solutions and great information: http://www.pbs.org/parents/raisingboys/school.html

Nancy Swenson

Seattle