10/07/08 Five Step Discipline

The first definition of accountable in the dictionary reads simply as, "answerable". Answerable is defined as, "required to give account". Now that I have regaled you with a vocabulary lesson, I'll explain. Several school districts across the nation are participating in a 5-step discipline program called Make Your Day. The program is designed so that each student is responsible for their own behavior in the classroom. Disrupting a class means the student has made the "choice" to move to Step 1 of the program, which means facing away from the class for a few minutes. Continued disruption of class moves the student to step 2; to stand facing away from class, and so on, with steps 4 and 5 involving a parent conference and possible expulsion. Some parents strongly oppose the program, stating they feel it dehumanizes students, while most school leaders and other parents say the program creates a better learning environment. Perhaps the program will actually get the students back in touch with their humanity, the part that requires us as human beings to feel a responsibility to others for our actions; be they good or bad.