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Principal Forces Teens To Apologize On Knees

It seems like some Principals believe humiliation is part of teaching the kids how to behave.

https://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,298626,00.html

Knees Apologize Teens Forces Principal

I do not understand what the hullabaloo is over this matter. Fighting in school is a very serious problem. It is important for the principal to select the best punishment, to ensure that this type of behaviour does not reoccur. Quite frankly, I thought the principal was too lenient on the boys. I laughed when I read that one of the parents, Penny Watson, was furious with the principal's choice of punishment. Maybe the principal should have handled this matter the old fashioned way, that is, by suspending the two boys! Perhaps all the parents would be more contented with this method, since suspension usually creates a stigma for the child in question.

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Geenie:

Disciplining has its limits. Not every form of discipline teachers and principals choose are the best for the child (I am sure we both can talk about this over the Trini board as well). In what way, humiliating children through apologizing on knees is going to HELP them? Humiliation is not discipline in my opinion.

Why?

Every school is supposed to have its rules on how to deal with certain behaviors. If the punishment for fighting is suspension, then so it be. Rules like that are in place so people in authority do not take matters into their own hands (such as this case).

Knees Apologize Teens Forces Principal

First of all, the principal chose to order the teens to go on their knees to apologize for their behaviour. I do not see any humiliation in this. He did not beat them or humiliate them like that other teacher, who ordered a student to urinate in a bottle, before all his classmates.

Honestly speaking, I do not know how kneeling down will assist the teens to understand what they did was wrong. I am thinking that the principal felt that it maybe a humbling experience for the two teens, to face each other and apologize. The principal seemed to be reluctant to suspend these boys since he is aware of the fact that, suspension will haunt these teens everywhere they go. When they apply for college or even a job, this suspension will appear in their records and may even hurt their chances for a better education or to be selected for a prestigious position in an organization.

I said:

LDS said:

I found it very amusing for Penny Watson to be furious with the principal because she seemed to be missing the whole issue here. Her son was involved fighting with another student and that is a very serious matter. If this pattern continues, her son may soon be behind bars for his violent behaviour. I think if I were in her shoes, I would be: ashamed of my son and very grateful towards the principal, for not suspending him!