What consequences come with referrals?
***** NOT A TEACHER *****
Hello, Mr. Whitman:
I think that I can tell you a little something about the situation here in Los Angeles.
What are the consequences? To be very frank (honest): In 2014, there are few consequences for bad behavior. In fact, the word "punishment: may NOT be used.
If a teacher refers a misbehaving student to the "office," the following things are possible:
1. The student will simply sit in the office for the rest of the period. (At least he is no longer causing problems in the teacher's classroom.)
2. He may be suspended. (For example, he may not attend school for three days, or he may not attend that particular teacher's class for three days.)
3. He may be transferred to another school.
4. He may be transferred to a school for "problem" students.
5. He may be expelled. (That is, he may not attend school for a year -- or forever!)
*****
Here in Los Angeles, suspensions are now VERY rare. For reasons that I cannot discuss, the government in Washington, D.C. told the schools in the United States to stop suspending so many students.
So the new rule here in L.A.:
If a student is defiant (for example: the teacher tells a student to sit in a certain seat and he says, "NO!"), he may not be suspended for disobeying the teacher. The new rule is: The teacher and the student will have a private meeting. The teacher will explain why he wanted to change the student's seat, and the student will explain why he did not want to move. Then the two persons will come to understand each other's feelings. (I am NOT joking!)
James