Understanding DJT 47’s Executive Order on School Discipline

I have seen a lot of postings on various social media sites the last week or s about an executive order that DJT 47 signed concerning teachers being able to discipline kids in school. I have seen a lot of parents talking about, “touch my kid and I touch you” and other threatening comments such as that. The truth behind the EO is that it does not allow a teacher to discipline a student by putting their hands on them or whip them with a paddle. People need to conduct their own research and not listen to some lady on TT that is just rambling because she is misinformed. I am a career teacher and I have only had to handle a student twice in my career.

Both times I was breaking up a severe fight where someone was down and the other student was senselessly kicking or hitting the other. In both cases there was admin team and an SRO involved on stopping the carnage. I worked for many years as a special educator and I saw some crazy stuff like kids throwing scissors at teachers, kids swinging scissors wildly, kids throwing desk, kids attacking other students and staff. These are unfortunate examples that are real life in some schools and classrooms across America on a daily basis. Now back to the EO that was signed.

The EO is actually put in place to correct a horrible decision made by the Obama admin in 2014. They put a rule in place that offered certain protections from expulsion, In School and Out of school suspension based on race, creed or disability. This has dug a big hole that is partly why so many educators are leaving the field for other careers or retiring early. I personally know about 12 kids that have been charged with violence against students, teachers. These kids are disruptive in class, prohibiting others from learning and often are the culprit in other school discipline issues. I left a district I worked for 10 years in due to this issue.

I have a bad back from being knocked over a table in the cafeteria by two girls fighting over a boy. I have had a kid swing at me and fortunately for him he missed. I have had a 6’2 285 pound kid stand over me at my desk and rare back to swing at me. I am around 6’1 and 285 pounds so I generally do not get many kids in my face. I have seen female teachers get hurt, traumatized and quit over stuff like this. I have seen admin teams have to physically handle an irate kid that just would not stop hitting themselves, fighting others or destroying property. Until you walk a mile in those shoes, then try not to be so blaming of others, staff, teachers and SRO’s. Try blaming yourself for allowing a kid to get away with stuff. Try blaming the kid for being a little jerk to others. Remember, as said before, the apple does not fall far from the tree.

I choose not to work where staff and students were at risk of being assaulted or attacked by a kid that was a repeat offender that the school would not suspend long term, place online or put in a alternative placement. The parents seem to be frustrated with these kids, but in some cases, the student is a apple from the tree of the parent. This new EO allows schools to finally suspend, kick out or place in alternative schools kids that are violent, disruptive or just do not care. I am glad this has happened and hope that the newer generation of parents change the way they are raising children.

Hold them accountable, stop pampering them and giving them everything they want. Stop posting videos talking about how you will go tear a school up if the touch your child. Stop the insanity as you are setting your students up for failure and then they will be claiming everything and everyone is against them. If they are a problem and it cannot be fixed, then it should be up to the parent to solve where that kid goes to school. If a student puts their hands on a teacher, the teacher has a right to defend. If a teacher puts their hands on a student, then the teacher should be fired unless they are acting on behalf of others to maintain a safe classroom.

Stop telling your kids that cops are bad. Stop telling your kids that putting their hands on others solves issues. Stop being a terrible example for your children and be proactive and maybe you need to whip that butt so they can go to school and act right. Be respectful and supportive of the school officials when your child messes up. This is my opinion and until you have worked in a school where 50% or more of the staff has been verbally or physically attacked, then stop spreading lies and hate.

Behavior, cell phones, culture and other things are ruining our schools and we have to do better. The sign on my door says, “If what you are doing hurts others physically, emotionally or is inhibiting their opportunity to learn. You will leave my classroom as much as we love you, you are not bigger or better than everyone else”. Discipline hurts grades, attendance and opportunity. Education is the way out for most kids, even the less fortunate. They should be focused on reading, writing, speaking and listening skills instead of fighting, acting out or watching their cell phone all day.

Lets work to keep our schools safe. Lets work to maintain a higher level of discipline with our children. Lets learn to place the blame where it belongs and that may require you to use tough love, point at yourself in the mirror or be supportive of those that are trying their best to help your child not become a statistic. A criminal in jail because they did not learn to manage themselves as teenagers. What is permitted will persist in life. Your student is free to react, act, do, say, or whatever is it they choose to do. But they are not free from the consequences of those actions and reactions.

Coach B