Establishing High Behavioral Expectations in The Classroom Create Positive Results and Decrease Unwanted Behaviors
By: Iteoluwa Aladesanmi, Oakland Scholar
The effectiveness of imposing standardized school behavior norms has been questioned by parents and educators. Has it influenced students’ behavior? Or has it resulted in a more rebellious set of students? There is no correct answer, but it is crucial to understand that establishing a set of school behavioral norms helps create a place in which children are aware of what they do and how they act. As a result, they will behave properly. School culture is the core belief & value that a school goes by inorder to create a safe & true society at their school. Implementing strong school behavioral standards can lead to more integrity in the classroom. Discipline helps kids to work properly, which leads to improved academic success.
In a research “School Discipline, School Uniforms and Academic Performance” researchers found that the highest-performing students are those in the most disciplined schools. Why is that? Students aren’t born with integrity. We learn it along the lines, so when a school provides a set rules on behavior students learn to adopt in order to not get punished, which in turn guides students on the right way to act. More research like this says stricter learning environments can help young people thrive in the classroom, calling into question the value of models that insist going easy on students is the best way to teach. The advantages of having a fixed school behavioral norm are mutual. This benefits both the children and the school. Schools become more structured and higher, and pupils gain honesty and integrity. In the nearest future, this would also aid students in acquiring jobs or any other high position in their career. Having set rules promotes safety, effective teaching, effective learning & responsible students.
It’s no secret that most students are reluctant to have a set norm to follow since they believe it limits their freedom. This is where schools’ behavioral standards come into play. Schools should not force students to obey, but rather encourage and inform them about the benefits of doing so. These behavioral guidelines should not be overly restrictive, if not this will create an environment in which students are afraid to lift their voice. It would also result in students with low self-esteem.
It is important that schools should agree on the best methods for improving students’ character by involving students in the decision process. Schools should become more open to accepting and listening to students’ perspectives. If these behavioral sets are created and are ineffective, schools should be willing to modify them. At the end of the day, what matters is the value that has been implanted in the minds of the students, which is why both sides are required in the decision of the behavioral set. This would also aid in accountability, because students do not want to be punished by the punishment they devised and do not want to disobey the standards they devised. Students’ adjustment to these behavioral standards might take time but if done properly students will realize it’s for their best interest.
