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From the numerous graduating classes throughout the past 50 years to the different style changes; the world we live in now is drastically different. Not only in the way we look, dress and talk, but also in school discipline.

“Back when I was in school, teachers drew circles on the board and had the student stand in front of the class and put their nose in it,” replied the Elementary Assistant Principle Ken Myers. Another fact that Mr. Myers shared was that in his 30 years of teaching and being apart of the school, the options available for discipline have greatly decreased.

ISS (in school suspension), ASD (after school detention), and loss of privileges, such as recess or time out, are the most common form of discipline in schools today. In earlier years, the teachers themselves could spank students when they misbehaved.  Now spanking in school can only be done by the principal/assistant principal with the parents’ consent.

A new method being practiced is not punishing the students for misbehaving but trying to change the behavior of the student. This is to hopefully change the habits of the child and the word choice of consequence is now used instead of discipline.

“You have consequences that follow for the decisions you make not punishments,” Mr. Myers replied. So, although a lot of changes have been made to the way disciplinary problems are handled whether the new methods are more effective or not is strictly up to you.