Frequently Asked Questions

1. Must students wear tennis shoes?
2. Must the planner be signed every day?
3. Please explain the "classroom economy system".

Must students wear tennis shoes?

On P.E. days, all lower school students are required to wear tennis shoes.  
Our P.E. days are Monday and Friday.

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Must the planner be signed every day?

Student planners will be signed by both teachers each day and should be 
signed by a parent and returned to school.  This is one of the quickest and 
most regular ways to keep up with what is happening in the 5th grade.

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Please explain the "classroom economy system".

Because we believe that God is a God of order and not of chaos and 
that �whom He loves He disciplines,� we believe that discipline is an 
important part of the life of the 5th grade classroom.  I believe that it is 
an important part of my own life as well.  I also believe that God has a 
plan for the discipline of children, in order that they grow in wisdom: 
learning how to handle everyday situations and challenges His way; in 
stature:  the gaining 
of physical and emotional maturity; and in favor with God and man:  learning 
how to rightly relate to God and the others that they come in contact with 
as they go through life.  God also wants each of us to become productive 
adults, to know the joy of hard work and a job well done.

My discipline plan is based on God�s Word that says, �I have on the one hand 
a blessing and on the other a cursing��  I think that balanced discipline 
should contain a balance of rewards and punishments.  This year each student 
will have a job to do to serve the class.  They have applied for and 
been �hired� for their jobs.  They will be paid each week in classroom 
bucks.  Their money is used first to provide their basis needs:  they pay 
$250/ week to rent their desks.  Other expenses are for entertainment, 
special treats and snacks, and to buy supplies they have failed to bring 
from home.  

There is a system of fines. Infractions may include excessive talking in 
class, mistreatment of or taking of others or class equipment, mistreatment 
or unkind words spoken to another class member, unsportsman-like character, 
failure to prepare for class (homework, materials, etc.),  failure to 
complete assignments as directed, or failure to 
meet the dress code.

Hopefully, as the year goes along students will grow in respect for others 
and authority and in responsibility for their own actions.  Infractions may 
include excessive talking in class, mistreatment of or taking of others or 
class equipment, mistreatment or unkind words spoken to another class 
member, 
unsportsman-like character, failure to prepare for class (homework, 
materials, etc.),  failure to complete assignments as directed, or failure 
to 
meet the dress code.

If a student is not responding to the economy program, parents are consulted 
for their help in bringing their child in line with the classroom rules.  I 
believe teachers are tools God uses in the educational process.  Ultimately, 
discipline and instruction are the responsibility of the parents, and 
teachers 
should not become the first line of training in a child�s life.

Other school officials would be enlisted to help as a last resort.  I think 
a 
student must learn to respect and obey his classroom teacher and therefore 
as 
many conflicts as possible should be worked out at that level.  

Prayer is a vital part of any successful discipline plan.  Prayer brings 
God�s Spirit of self-control and obedience to the child and God�s wisdom to 
the adults involved in teaching him.

For more serious offenses, a Wisdom search approach is used.  This is 
designed to help the child see that he/she has offended God and must make 
his 
relationship with God and the others involved right again.  This is done 
through:
1.	recognition of the problem:  �I was wrong when I�.�
2.	confession:  Asking God and others to forgive me
3.	repentance:  Taking the necessary steps to assure that the actions 
won�t be repeated.  This usually involves reading specific Bible passages, 
journaling about the passages and the prayers prayed, and making necessary 
4.	restitution.  Making the offense right with the people harmed by the 
actions.


Parents are always asked to participate in these activities with the child.

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