Parents at P.E.I. elementary school question the way kids are being disciplined
CBC
Parents of students at an elementary school in Stratford, P.E.I., are questioning the way the school rewards good behaviour and punishes misbehaving.
Students who behave in a way deemened good by staff are given a pink slip, while students who misbehave are handed green slips. The slips are to be taken home, signed by a parent, and returned to the school.
"What the school administration calls a communication tool for parents, parents are saying it is public shaming for their children," Tanya Nace, president of the Stratford Elementary Home and School Association, told CBC News.
"It's harmful for the children because in a lot of cases it is given in a public way ... Maybe it's given in front of the classroom, or in front of their peers which creates discrimination."
Nace says she's heard from about 100 parents who have issues with the slip program.
"It doesn't seem to be very consistent. So, there are lots of different reasons students are given these green slips. It can even be given by a substitute who may not know who the student is, what their background is, maybe if they are dealing with a disability or a trauma in their life," Nace said.
"It creates children who may be scared about doing something wrong to be nervous about coming to school."
Nace said her own child, who is in Grade 3, is nervous about going to school because he's worried about being handed a green slip.
Other parents at the school have similar concerns.
"The green slips have, in my opinion, a negative effect on the children," said Patrick Ross, whose son attends the school.
"Children see them much more negatively than, I believe, what they are intended for.
"Having the child, in some instances, receiving a green slip in front of the class is hard for a child. I believe that the negative punishments never ultimately change the negative behaviour."
Principal Janet Coughlin-Cameron said school staff haven't received any complaints directly — they've all come through the home and school association.
She said the slips are simply a communication tool.
All public schools on P.E.I. are closed Friday and thousands of Maritime Electric customers are without power as strong winds create hazardous travel conditions across the province.
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