Imagine this…just for a moment…what if when a student didn’t turn in an assignment, the teacher punished the child by making him/her walk 5+ minutes during recess? Or on the secondary setting…a student having to walk five minutes during lunch?
Okay…I can hear you laughing at me! Or maybe you are shaking your head in agreement? Good idea?
My daughter lives with this repurcussion should she not turn in another homework assignment on time or should she turn in an assignment late.
What happened to just taking off points?
As an English teacher, I am relieved with this method as teachers are no longer using our curriculum area as a means of punishment. No more writing sentences over and over, writing essays, or simply copying word-for-word right out of a book. For that, I say “thank you.” For those punishments drastically contradict the purpose of our curriculum area.
While I appreciate the ever-ongoing battle in obtaining work from all students, (for we do live with the challenge of No Child Left Behind that all students will be proficient) I do find this choice sad. When I think about my baby doll having to walk during her recess as a means of correcting behavior, well, it just makes me sad. No, she doesn’t want to walk during her recess. she wants to run, dance, climb the monkey-bars, and swing the “highest of all.” Not walk. No, not walk.
I also hope that this choice does not have an adverse effect on obesity amongst the adults these children will one day become as they equate this walking with the punishment it was.
Perks exist, though. This walking should help meet our state’s physical education weekly requirements. Maybe this will save our district money in teacher salaries for a phsyical education teacher? Maybe?
Is this punishment effective? Oh, yes! My lazy baby doll…for she should not have “forgotten” to do her homework (and, yes, that was her excuse when I asked her…boo hoo)…will be more diligent about completing her homework. For as I stated above, she would rather run, dance, and swing, than walk…which is a great testiment for a child who has had three major open-heart surgeries.
You see…I am blessed to have that baby doll who can run, dance, swing…and yes, walk.
