Among the things mentioned that draw a fine are not looking a teacher in the eye, having untied shoes, running a pencil along the side of a desk, or bringing chips to school.
I can not imagine teaching under such rigid rules and scripted behavior. How in the world can there be any spontaneity or joy in learning with such defined behavior.
This was brought to light by a parents' group through FOIA documents.
From Chicago News Cooperative:
Charter Operator Fines Students For Infractions
One of the city’s highest-performing charter school groups, the Noble Street Charter School Network, has raked in nearly $400,000 over the last two school years by fining students for disciplinary infractions, a group of Chicago Public School students and parents said this morning.
The Noble Street Charter School Network collected $188,647 in fines, which it calls “fees,” during the 2010-2011 school year across the 10 high schools it operates. Since the 2008-2009 school year, the organization has collected $386,745 in detention fees and behavior classes.
Noble schools charge students $5 for behavior infractions like “bringing chips to school” and “not looking a teacher in the eye,” and students with multiple infractions must pay $140 to take a behavior-improvement course during summer school, according to information obtained by a trio of student, parent and legal advocacy groups.
I like the comments of Julie Woestehoff about this type of discipline:
“It isn’t ‘noble’ to treat teenagers like two-year-olds,” said Julie Woestehoff, executive director of PURE. “It isn’t ‘noble’ to treat your predominately African American and Latino students as though they are all potential criminals whose every movement must be harshly controlled.”
One mother is especially concerned about the harsh effects on her son, a student with ADHD.
From the Chicago Tribune:
Parent, student groups criticize charter schools' student fines
Donna Moore labeled the fees a “hidden tax.’’ She said her son was forced to repeat freshmen year at one Noble Street high school based mostly on minor infractions — like running a pencil along the edge of a desk and not “tracking the teacher’’ with this eyes -- that did not endanger school safety or disrupt class.
Moore said her son has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and a stress syndrome that make some Noble rules oppressive. Especially unrealistic, she said, are Noble demerits for violating its SMART policy, which stands for “Sit” up straight, “Make” eye contact when addressed, “Articulate” in standard English, “Respond” appropriately and “Track” the speaker with your eyes
A good teacher does not need that kind of punitive mindset toward students. A good teacher has rapport with her students, and situations are handled within a trusting relationship. I taught in one of the toughest schools in our area, and the children there respond in the same way to kindness and caring blended with a firm voice and common sense. We had serious problems at that school, but fining students who come to school to eat a good meal is not the answer.
I find it sad that Rahm Emanuel picked these schools as ones which he praised lavishly. He even said the teachers had goals and cared. Like the rest of us in public schools did not?? I hate it when the "reformers" do that.
Hundreds were protesting these policies today. This is from an ABC network.
Noble was recently touted by Mayor Rahm Emanuel as having what he called "secret sauce" in creating quality education in Chicago
CHICAGO, IL -- Hundreds of people protested at Chicago Public School headquarters Monday against the Noble Street Charter Network's use of fines to discipline students that they say is not stopping the bad behavior and digs deep into the parents' pockets.
Noble was recently touted by Mayor Rahm Emanuel as having what he called "secret sauce" in creating quality education in Chicago. Now other charter schools are looking to make similar changes, changes that some former students and parents say are too strict and too costly.
..."The group called Voices of Youth in Chicago Education claim Noble Charter Schools collects thousands of dollars each year in disciplinary fines from students and families, many of them from low-income homes. With other charter schools working to adopt the same policy the group wants to put an end to these strict rules.
Ultimately if a student can't pay they will be held back and forced to repeat the entire school year regardless of their academic status," Woestehoff said.
Held back because of financial status at a school that gets taxpayer money but doesn't have to answer to the taxpayers. So much wrong with that picture.
Crossposted at Twitter