Detention for Students Who Have to Catch the Bus

Question:

Hi Craig-

I am enjoying these comments very much and look forward to each email! I tried the
15 minutes detention on a student today and it worked immediately! I just have to
ask you this... the students need to make their school bus after school as we live
in a rural area. Therefore, we have a hard time keeping them after school. However,
if you make it for the next day, it does not have the impact that a detention today
does, does it?

Answer:

I have several teachers write me about the problem of students catching the bus and therefore meet with difficulty assigning detention.  It depends on the school and bussing situation, and what the alternatives are for students who don’t catch the bus.

First, it depends on how long the bus leaves after school.  Were I a school administrator, I would try to make sure the busses didn’t leave for at least 15 minutes after school to allow for students going to the library, seeing teachers about missed work, make-up tests, and any other miscellaneous needs associated with a functioning academic community that can’t accomplish all within the normal school hours.

If that is not possible, then my next question is what do students do who miss the bus?  There must be some alternative way of getting home?  Or is it insured that all students are on the bus before it leaves.  Are there no extra-curricular activities?  If students have to wait for an hour for the second bus, that is their problem.  It should give you even more leverage when assigning a detention.

If you must give notice to parents, delaying things a day, it is a bit more legwork, but still effective, as long as students cannot skip the detention.  Just as your paycheck may be delayed two weeks for the work you are doing, if you know it is coming, it still motivates you to work (umm..I know teachers’ salaries are sometimes an exception).  But if you are consistent, and the student must make detention no matter what, it should not lose much impact.

Always keep in mind the techniques are based on prinicples, not the other way around.  The principle here is that there is a consequence that counts, which gives you the leverage you need to keep things in order.

Best Regards,

Craig Seganti