Three-part forms, detention slips, file cabinets, paddles, and other tools of the 20th century used to implement discipline systems are largely antiquated...or at least they are antiquated in school systems that have fully moved into the 21st century.


Change is indeed inevitable, while growth in response to that change is optional.  The tool set schools use to support their discipline system is a perfect example.  Schools that still rely upon the 20th century tools listed above (and more) are missing the growth they can achieve for the same or even lessor cost by largely replacing all of that with a 21st century database-managed system that holds students accountable more effectively with less effort. 

I helped develop such a tool as part of a wildly successful effort to turn around a failing school in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex.  This tool was instrumental in growing our school accountability in response to changing challenges AND capabilities.  Once we developed a program outlining our discipline philosophy we used this powerful tool to design a system for its implementation.  Any one without the other would not have achieved the growth we effected.

As this series of posts develops, I will further explain this tool in conjunction with careful attention to the other facets of achieving a healthy discipline climate as a means of helping schools grow in response to inevitable change.

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This is blog entry #3 of an unknown number of coming blog posts providing information aimed at improving a school's efforts to promote appropriate student discipline.  Click a number to the right to view prior entries in this series: #1, #2.