Good conduct begins at home

Every pupil should come to school ready to learn, and parents play a big part in getting them ready. Even before they start school, youngsters need to be prepared not just for reading and counting, but for appreciating rules and understanding limits. Children must learn to respect each other and the adults who teach them, to work cooperatively with classmates and to follow the instructions they receive.

As a parent, you teach and model thoughtful behavior at home. You demonstrate self-control in your own behavior, as well as sensitivity toward your children’s feelings through word and deed. Research shows that when parents show concern about how their children feel, children learn to think about the feelings of others. School rules, like home rules, are there to remind children about the right way to behave.

UFT workshop. The vast majority of our children come to school prepared to learn. They are eager and happy to be in school and know what it means to play — and learn — by the rules. Yet, instilling good behavior isn’t easy. One place you can turn for suggestions is the United Federation of Teachers. We offer workshops for parents on improving children’s self-discipline. Call the UFT at (212) 598-7787 for the current schedule.

The need for a discipline code

Unfortunately, some young people have not yet mastered the rules of behavior. They may disrupt lessons or bully their classmates. Some do not have enough self-control to restrain their actions. So the Department of Education has established citywide standards of student conduct and appropriate disciplinary measures. This is called a discipline code. It lists the rules and the consequences for improper actions. Most important, the code is designed to ensure secure and supportive settings for children — and to assure that the rights of all students are protected.

Parents, student advocacy groups, the teachers’ union, administrators and many others all had a say in developing these rules and consequences.

The discipline code applies to students:

on school property during, before and after school hours;
on school buses; and
at all school-sponsored events at places away from the school site.

There are three discipline codes that affect your child, and they work together:

The citywide discipline code outlines the rules, regulations and responsibilities of all members of the educational family.
Your school district’s discipline code tailors the general policy to your community.
Your school’s discipline code has specifics of what is allowed in that building.

All three codes have things in common. They all include a "ladder of consequences," a list of infractions that are matched to punishments that can or must be taken in each case. For minor infractions, such as misbehaving in class, a parent may be called to school for a conference. For the most serious offenses, such as possessing a firearm, a student may be suspended and transferred to what educators call an "alternative educational setting." There, students who have a history of violent or disruptive behavior can learn without disturbing their classmates. In addition, they will get the counseling and other support they need to overcome their behavior problems.

Every school should make sure that both students and parents know these rules. Teachers should discuss them in class. Printed copies of the code, along with a letter of explanation to parents, must be sent home every year. The letter, written in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Russian and Haitian/Creole, includes a tear-off coupon for parents to sign and return to the teacher to show that they have read and understood the rules and will work to support them.

If you haven’t received a copy of the code, contact your child’s principal or get copies of the discipline codes from your district office.

See the APPENDIX for an abridged version of the Board of Education’s discipline code.