Cather School and Grant School, public schools in Chicago, have developed the
following manual as part of their school discipline code:
"MANUAL OF RULES AND PROCEDURES
FOR IMPROVING SCHOOL ORDER AND SAFETY
Cather School/Grant School
Statement of Understanding and Support
I certify that I have received the Manual of Rules and
Procedures for improving school order and safety for Cather School/Grant
School.
I agree to support the rules and the ideas of the Manual.
Signed____________________________________________
Parent/Guardian
MANUAL OF RULES AND PROCEDURES FOR IMPROVING SCHOOL ORDER AND
SAFETY
This manual for improving school order and safety was prepared by a team of
parents, teachers and administrators from Cather and Grant elementary schools.
It is based on the belief that academic achievement and good school discipline
go hand in hand. The rules and consequences outlined herein are the result of
careful study and thought by the team. The manual is now being submitted to
inform and get the support of those responsible for ensuring good
discipline--the teachers, parents and students of the Cather and Grant school
communities.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section One: School-Wide Rules and Consequences
Section Two: Individual Classroom Rules and Discipline Education
Section Three: Legal Framework for School Order and Safety
Section Four: School Order and Safety Agreement and Related
Rights and Responsibilities
Section Five: Procedures for Maintaining Good Discipline and
Preventing Problems from Happening
Section Six: Procedures for Amending and Revalidating This Manual
SECTION ONE: SCHOOL-WIDE RULES AND CONSEQUENCES
The rules that follow conform to the broad outline provided in the Chicago
Uniform Discipline Code and are needed to provide the safest and most orderly
climate for student learning. They do not replace rules and consequences in
the Uniform Code, but rather add to it to provide for the special order and
safety conditions and desires at Cather and Grant schools. It is expected that
all staff, students and parents will be familiar with the Cather and Grant
rules and consequences and those found in the Uniform Code as well as all rules
related to each classroom. The rules which are listed below clarify for
students the behaviors expected of them in and around the school.
General Classroom Behavior
A proper learning atmosphere in the classroom requires that students know and
observe the following rules.
The Rules
- Students may not leave their seats or the classroom without
permission.
- Disruptive behavior, obscene or profane language, or defying teacher
authority is not permitted.
- Students are to eat only in designated school places.
- Students are not to chew gum in class.
- Students are not to wear hats or coats in class.
The Consequences
- Violations regarding disruptive behavior, bad language, defying
authority or wearing hats or coats in class will result in the penalties
prescribed in the Chicago Uniform Discipline Code.
- Food, drink or other material not allowed in the classroom will be taken
from students and not returned to them.
Student Movement
Both a proper learning atmosphere and personal safety considerations require
that students observe the following rules concerning movement.
The Rules
- Students will enter and exit the building by lining up at the place
assigned to them, and will walk in and out in a quiet and orderly way.
- Teachers will be present to supervise student movement into and out of the
school.
- Individual students in the hallways are to walk quietly and are not to eat
or drink.
- Students in the halls during class time must have a pass from their teacher
or the office.
- Students arriving late to school are to go directly to the security desk at
the main entrance.
The Consequences
- Punishments for student fighting as specified in the Chicago Uniform
Discipline Code are to be strictly enforced.
- In cases where the School Discipline Council believes it appropriate, first
offenses may be resolved by the Council by assigning a commensurate and
compatible consequence of its choice. For example, the student who was the
clear offender in the fight might make a public apology to the offended
student.
- The discipline administrator will notify police of any extreme student
violence, and parents of the victim will be notified and encouraged to press
charges against the offender. Parents will also be encouraged to report
out-of-school fights to the police.
- Both school authorities and parents will be informed of the provisions of
the Parental Responsibility Act allowing for recovery of money damages for harm
caused by one student to another, and encouraged to press such claims.
Unauthorized Persons In and Around the School
A major threat to school order and safety is the presence of persons who
loiter in and about the school. Therefore, all members of the school community
must become alert to this problem and report immediately such outsiders to the
discipline administrator.
The Rule
- Teachers should not allow unauthorized visitors into the classroom.
Authorization is given by the main office, in the form of a pass, to the
classroom or for any other approved purpose.
The Consequence
- Unauthorized visitors who do not cooperate with school authorities and
rules will be asked to leave. If they do not, their presence will be reported
to the police.
School Dress Code
While dress and grooming are a matter of individual taste and preference, we
all have an effect on each other. The staff and parents believe that improper
dress has a negative effect on school discipline, health and safety. In order
to guide students, parents and staff about what type of dress or grooming is
not allowed and to indicate general expectations, the following examples of
rules are given. A more complete list will be developed by the School
Discipline Council.
- Any form of dress and grooming that can be interpreted as a gang symbol
is not allowed. (Example: boys wearing earrings known to designate gang
membership.)
- Any form of dress or grooming that is clearly intended to insult someone or
make them feel bad is not allowed. (Example: a T-shirt with something written
on it that is disrespectful.)
- Immodest dress is forbidden. This includes very short shirts for girls, or
'short shorts' for boys or girls, or very low necklines for girls.
- Students are expected to come to school clean. This means that they are
washed, hair is combed, and clothing is neat and clean.
- Teachers serve as role models for students. Therefore, it is expected that
adults in the school will dress in clean, modest and appropriate clothing; and
that they will groom themselves in ways that they wish the students to
imitate.
The Consequences
- Students who come to school dressed in ways that are immodest, or that
present threats to safety, health or discipline will be warned and the parent
notified for first violations. Students will be allowed to remain in school
provided that something can be done to remedy the problem.
- Repeated or flagrant violations of the dress code will be treated as
specified in the Uniform Discipline Code.
Possession of Alcohol, Drugs, Weapons or Other
Dangerous or Unhealthy Materials
The danger to students, teachers and others from students possessing illegal
substances and weapons in the school is a major threat to health and school
order. It must be dealt with in a most serious and firm manner.
The Rule
- Student are not permitted to bring alcohol, drugs, weapons or other
dangerous materials into the school. When possession of such material is
suspected, unannounced locker searches may occur. and students may be searched.
Parents will be informed when there are such suspicions and actions.
The Consequences
- Students found in possession of, or delivering illegal or unauthorized
materials will be dealt with in accordance with items 4-4 and 5-7 of the
Uniform Discipline Code. The unauthorized materials will be taken from
students and not returned.
- Students found to be in possession or to be delivering unauthorized
materials will be required to participate in counseling sessions conducted by
school personnel. Parents may be required to attend these sessions.
Behavior In The School Cafeteria
Eating should be a pleasant and healthy experience. This cannot be the case
when the eating area contains disruption, bad manners or misuse of food.
The Rules
- Students entering the cafeteria will proceed to serving lines in an
orderly and quiet manner.
- Students should talk quietly and not disturb others in the cafeteria.
- Students must dispose of waste properly and not litter.
- Students are not allowed to take food or drinks from the cafeteria.
- Students must be courteous and respectful to cafeteria workers.
Consequences
- Violations may result in the offender being required to clean up any
mess made.
- Repeated or flagrant violations will result in a
student-parent-administrator conference.
SECTION TWO: INDIVIDUAL CLASSROOM RULES AND DISCIPLINE
EDUCATION
Classroom Rules
Classroom discipline codes, established by individual teachers in consultation
with students and parents, are important for providing students with clear
expectations of behavior. Each class code should specify routines, behaviors
and consequences considered important to classroom order and safety. These
rules should be impressed upon both students and their parents. They should be
posted in the classroom and delivered to the home. The code should have as few
rules as necessary and should allow for relative ease of enforcement of
consequences. Wherever possible, the consequences should have a positive,
learning orientation.
Discipline Education
Each teacher should include discipline education as a regular part of the
curriculum. This instructional component should include the following
topics.
- Understanding discipline rules and procedures and explaining the reasons
for them.
- Informing students of their legal rights, such as expression, privacy and
due process,
- Standards of dress and grooming appropriate to the school,
- Student behavior designed to prevent property from being stolen or damaged
by others,
- Behavior that can avoid confrontation leading to fights with other
students, and other forms of conflict resolution,
- Safety procedures for going to and from the school, and while in the school
playground,
- Dangers associated with substance abuse, and
- Positive approaches to peer interaction, and the benefits of avoiding the
'putting-down' of classmates.
SECTION THREE: LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR SCHOOL ORDER AND
SAFETY
State and federal statues and court decisions have developed a legal framework
in which the control of school order and safety should operate. This section
outlines the legal authority and responsibilities of educators, parents and
students in the conduct of public education as it relates to school order and
safety.
Student Civil Rights
Laws, court decisions and school district regulations give students certain
civil rights that may not be violated. Courts have made clear that none of
these civil rights are unlimited. In fact, civil rights protections are
balanced against the need of the school to maintain order and safety in
specific situations. The major student civil rights concepts to be followed in
the administration of discipline are these:
- Students have personal expression rights that involve speech, press,
and dress and grooming. They can express themselves on matters of important
social and political concern. However, such expression may not disturb or
impede the educational process, and may not involve profane or obscene
expression. Educators have the responsibility of justifying limits on student
expression as necessary for school learning, order and safety.
- Students have privacy rights. Therefore, they may not be searched without
a legitimate reason. When a reason exists, their lockers, desks, purses,
bookbags and clothing may be searched. More intrusive searches must be
justified by a strong suspicion that the suspected material will be found on
the person searched. an equally strong justification must be available for
'dragnet' or 'blanket' searches involving large numbers of students searched on
an indiscriminate basis.
- Students are entitled to due process. This includes the right to both
procedural and substantive due process. The concept requires that students be
treated fairly by school authorities when school actions or rules may infringe
upon student liberty or property, including access to schooling.
- Procedural due process means that when students are threatened with a
discipline penalty such as suspension, they are entitled to be promptly told
what violation they are accused of, and given an opportunity to offer an
explanation in their behalf. They are also entitled to an impartial
decision-maker. As the potential penalty for an infraction increases, students
are entitled to greater protection.
- Substantive due process means that student liberty and property interests
are protected against school rules or educator actions that are unreasonable.
Therefore, all school and educator rules and actions that threaten student
liberty or property interests must be related to a reasonable school objective
pursued in a reasonable way.
The due process standards for administration of discipline at Cather and Grant
schools are:
- Discipline penalties will not be administered before students are told
why they are being imposed, and not before they are given a chance to respond
to the charges.
- When suspension of a student is being considered, parents will be informed
and the student, with the parents present if they wish, will be given a hearing
before an impartial decision-maker, such as the discipline administrator or the
principal. When the offense involves either of both of these administrators,
the School Discipline Council will hold the hearing and make the decision. The
student will be entitled to present evidence in his or her behalf at the
hearing.
- Students will have the right to appeal a decision of suspension made by
administrators to the School Discipline Council.
- Student who believe a school or teacher rule or action is unfair because it
is unrelated to a valid purpose or is too vague, or otherwise unfair, may
inform the discipline administrator, who will investigate the matter. If the
investigation is believed to have merit, the matter will be referred to the
School Discipline Council for review and recommendation.
Legal Provisions on Discipline Affecting Teachers
- The School Code of Illinois requires that superintendents report all
written complaints from school personnel about incidents of battery against
them to local law enforcement authorities within 24 hours (10-21.7).
Similarly, in accordance with Public Act 84-1016, principals must report all
acts of intimidation to local law enforcement authorities.
- Teachers are responsible for maintaining discipline in the school and on
school grounds (24-24).
- Teachers may be dismissed under the incompetency provision if they fail to
maintain discipline (10-22.4).
- School boards must establish a discipline policy which provides that a
teacher may remove a student from the classroom for disruptive behavior
(24-24).
Laws Related to Parents
- The School Code of Illinois requires parents to send their children
aged 7-16 to school. Parents found to be in violation of this law are guilty
of a Class C misdemeanor (26-1: 26-10).
- The Parental Responsibility Act makes the parent or legal guardian of a
minor liable for damages suffered from the willful or malicious act of a minor
causing injury to a person or damage to property.
SECTION FOUR: SCHOOL ORDER AND SAFETY AGREEMENT
AND RELATED RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Statements of the rights and responsibilities of students, parents, teachers
and administrators regarding their roles in establishing a safe and orderly
learning environment at the school are given below. They add to the statements
found in the Uniform Discipline Code. Each student, parent, teacher and
administrator will be asked to indicate acceptance of these responsibilities
and understanding of these rights by signing a statement to that effect.
Student Rights and Responsibilities
- Students have the right to be treated fairly and politely by all school
staff. Students also have the right to a classroom that is quiet and orderly
enough for them to learn. Therefore, students are expected to treat each other
and school staff with politeness and respect, and to help keep classrooms quiet
and orderly. They also have the right to expect that their teachers will
support their right to learn by firmly and fairly implementing discipline rules
and regulations.
- Student have rights of expression, religion, fair treatment and privacy
that must be respected. For example, no student will be suspended before being
told why he or she is to be suspended, and given a chance to explain his side
of the case. Even when less serious penalties are considered, staff will
always tell students the reason that they are being punished and listen to
their version of the story.
- Students are expected to know and understand school and classroom rules.
It is the teacher's responsibility to explain these rules to students and to
provide copies of them.
- Students have a right to expect others to follow the rules set for all.
If they find that others are violating rules, they should report this
information to their teacher or the discipline administrator.
Parent Rights and Responsibilities
- The policy of Cather and Grant schools is to give parents a voice in
the development and review of school discipline policy and decisions. This can
be done informally, or through participation on the School Discipline Council
as described in Section Five.
- Parents are responsible for the control and correction of the school
behavior of their children. The school will take whatever legal action is
available against parents whose children do not attend school, or who willfully
or maliciously cause injury to persons or damage to school property.
- School-home communication is a two-way responsibility. The school accepts
responsibility for informing parents of the performance and behavior of their
children, and it is expected that parents will keep the school informed about
their children as needed.
- Parents should contribute to making the school a safe and orderly
environment. This can be done for example, by volunteering to patrol routes to
and from school, to monitor the playground, and to accept similar
responsibilities approved by the School Discipline Council.
- Parents have the right to expect training that will help them be of best
help in the education of their children. The school should provide the
training requested and needed by parents.
- Parents and teachers share responsibility to be discipline
educators. They must work together for the good of the children. To do
this, it is important that parents and educators communicate with one another,
and learn from one another.
- Parents must make sure that the school can contact them during the day,
and come to school when asked to do so.
- Parents have the right and obligation to visit the school to see the
program and talk to teachers. When parents wish to visit, the school should be
informed in advance to make arrangements. If advance notice is not convenient,
parents should first go to the school office to notify the administration of
their presence in the school.
Teacher Rights and Responsibilities
- Teachers are responsible for knowing the school discipline rules and
philosophy, and developing written classroom rules that complement them. They
have the right to receive support for discipline from administrators and
parents.
- Teachers must be discipline educators. This means giving
priority to establishing good discipline through communication and instruction
with students, and communication with parents and administrators. It is
expected that teacher discipline rules and actions will:
- emphasize preventive approaches to discipline;
- have positive reinforcement or learning experiences attached to them;
- be compatible and commensurate with the misbehavior;
- avoid consequences that interrupt or interfere with learning; and
- include learning about expected behavior and how to develop it as part of
the curriculum.
- Teachers have the legal right to have a disruptive student removed from
their classroom.
- Teachers have the right to expect training and information services that
contribute to their ability to be good discipline administrators and
educators.
- Teachers must conscientiously inform administrators of discipline problems
and must keep good discipline records. Teachers have the right to receive
prompt and complete feedback from administrators about actions taken in
response to discipline referrals.
- Teachers have the right and responsibility to have their views represented
in the school discipline code. This can be done through service on the School
Discipline Council and by informing the discipline administrator and/or Council
of their concerns and suggestions.
Administrator Rights and Responsibilities
- The principal and assistant principal have the responsibility for
establishing a School Discipline Council that adequately represents the
administration, faculty, students and parents in the control of school order
and safety. The administration is further responsible for executing Council
decisions, provided that they do not violate the Uniform Discipline Code or
school rules and procedures established in this manual.
- The administration must keep faculty, students and parents fully and
promptly informed of all Council activities and decisions, along with other
matters relevant to school order and safety. The administration is also
responsible for private communication with teachers, parents and students
involved in individual discipline cases that should not become general
knowledge.
- The principal/assistant is responsible for initiating the annual revision
of this manual, and insuring that it is consistent with district policy. This
process must include review by all concerned groups.
- Administrators are responsible for executing and enforcing school
discipline policy. This requires that they have the support of all staff who
must know and follow this manual.
- Administrators are responsible for seeing to it that all teachers have a
written class discipline code, and for providing teachers with the support they
need to develop a good set of classroom rules.
SECTION FIVE: PROCEDURES FOR MAINTAINING GOOD DISCIPLINE AND
PREVENTING PROBLEMS FROM HAPPENING
Implementation of the Manual of School Rules
- During the first week of the 1988-89 school year, teachers will devote
time to explaining and discussing this manual and their classroom rules with
students. This work will be completed when students show that they know the
material and sign a statement to that effect. Teachers will also sign that
they understand and intend to abide by these rules, as will administrators.
- During the first week of school, this document and classroom rules will be
sent home for parents to read, together with an invitation to come to school to
discuss the rules and procedures with teachers or administrators. Parents will
be expected to sign that they have read the material and intend to abide by the
rules and regulations contained in it.
- Students and parents for whom signatures are not obtained will be asked to
attend conferences with the teacher or the administrator to determine the
reason for failure to sign. Additional explanation will be provided in the
hope that the parent of student will sign, thereby indicating support for the
rules, procedures and beliefs about discipline.
The School Discipline Council
A School Discipline Council will be established by the principal, who will
chair it or assign the discipline administrator as chairperson. The Council
will include three teachers, two parents and two students. This Council will
meet on a monthly basis, and at other times when the chairperson deems it
necessary. The Council will deal with such matters as:
- The condition of school discipline, including a review of discipline
data and the adequacy of current rules, procedures and staff responsiveness;
- development of an in-school suspension program, where possible, in which
misbehaving students spend the school day in doing assigned work under
competent supervision;
- decision-making on discipline cases brought before it. These decisions
will be in the form of recommendations to the principal on suggested actions to
be taken in specific discipline cases, including due process hearings;
- preparing for times of unusual problems of order and safety, such as
seasonal changes bringing warm weather, or emerging gang problems in the
neighborhood;
- individual members serving as impartial decision-makers for due process
hearings;
- consideration of issues and cases brought before it by teachers, parents,
students or administrators regarding general discipline matters, or special
concerns of the individual requesting the Council's attention;
- acting on emergency needs for temporary discipline activities, rules or
regulations;
- working with the administration on the annual revision of the manual;
- developing volunteer assignments for parents interested in making a
contribution to school order and safety;
- planning programs on school order and safety for students and parents;
- making decisions on school order and safety awards to teachers, students
and parents;
- taking such other actions as may contribute to improved school discipline,
order and safety.
Procedures Regarding Discipline Records
- Teachers are encouraged to maintain written records of student behavior
patterns in the classroom in order to provide information to parents or
administrators in the event of a disciplinary referral. Referrals should be in
writing and clearly indicate the reason for the referral, along with background
information allowing for a proper interpretation of the behavior at issue, and
any recommendations for action the teacher may have.
Procedures for Implementing Behavioral Consequences
- Each year, the School Discipline Council will select one room and/or
one student for recognition as a good example of the school's dress and
grooming ideals. Parents or teachers making particular contributions to school
dress and grooming standards should also be considered for recognition.
- Students, teachers or parents identified for making contributions to
decreasing or preventing student fighting or other persistent discipline
problems should be recognized.
- Members of the school community who report the presence of unauthorized
visitors should receive recognition and reward.
- Classes in which all students and parents have signed that they understand
and accept the manual will be recognized and rewarded.
Recognition/rewards are defined and implemented as follows:
- There will be two annual school recognition assemblies at which
persons/rooms making the above contributions are identified and presented with
an appropriate symbol of recognition, such as a certificate with their name
printed on it, or a ribbon or button commemorating the behavior recognized.
- During the school year, as persons make contributions to school order and
safety deserving of recognition, their names will be posted on a school
bulletin board, and their names and contribution noted in the monthly report
produced by the Discipline Council.
- Details about the person recognized will be forwarded to the Board of
Education, local churches, community agencies and newspapers to further
publicize and reward those honored.
SECTION SIX: PROCEDURES FOR AMENDING AND REVALIDATING THIS
MANUAL
Each year, there will be a general review and analysis of discipline at the
school conducted by the Discipline Council. This review will involve analysis
of discipline records, and feedback received from teachers, students, parents,
and administrators. The purpose of the review and analysis will be to update
and improve this manual so that it remains as responsive and helpful as
possible regarding the control of school discipline, order and safety.
The process of revision will begin in May of each year, with revalidation
completed before the close of school in June. All teachers, administrators,
parents and students will be given an opportunity to review recommended
changes, and add their advice and suggestions. When revision is completed, all
parents, students and staff will be asked to insure that they understand and
intend to abide by the rules and procedures in the manual, and sign to that
effect."
References