I asked my Mom what they did with the naughty kids in their classes when she taught in the 50's and 60's. She said she NEVER sent a kid to the office. They got spanked in the classroom. So much for help in that area. I wouldn't spank someone else's kid even if they allowed it at school. Not my thing to hit a kid who probably gets hit at home. Although I often wonder if that is the problem. No discipline at home trickles down into the school discipline problems. I don't advocate spanking but parents need to think up a discipline program of some kind so we don't have such severe problems at school.
I know there are a lot of discipline programs out there but our district seems to purchase them and dump them by the bucket load. We have spent more money on "new ideas" than a teacher makes in 30 years of teaching. That is sad. It is OK to be nice but only after you have the classroom under control. If the teachers would buy into all using the same consequences and follow-through, we could be a little more successful. But, we have teachers who send kids to the office at the drop of a hat. Then there are those of us who do it in our classroom until it is out of control. They all get the same treatment in the office. Something needs to be done. The kids are just getting away with it.
Any Ideas?