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Procedures and Policies » Discipline Policy

Discipline Policy

Discipline Policy

The Arcata School District’s Preschool Program believes that both children and staff have three basic rights:

  1. Everyone has the right to be free from verbal and physical abuse.
  2. Everyone has the right to learn, grow, and have fun.
  3. Everyone has the right to safety for themselves and their personal property.

 

The goal of discipline for children is to help them learn acceptable limits of behavior and to help them develop self-control of their behavior.  This is accomplished by providing an environment that allows for independence, yet sets clear limits and expectations of the child.  Limits are maintained by adults who have realistic expectations of the child based on the child’s developmental level. 

 

Discipline may take many forms, and will be geared to the child’s age and the severity of the problem.  When possible, the program will allow the child to experience the natural consequences of their actions. In no instances will any form of corporal punishment, humiliation, ridicule, threat, or other similar action be used or condoned with children.  The program also prohibits parents, guardians, and others from using any of the aforementioned while at the program’s centers.  Children will be encouraged to work out problems constructively, and develop respect for self, others, and their environment. 

 

If a child exhibits behavior that infringes on another person’s rights or property, one or more of the following actions will occur.  These are examples only.  These actions may not occur in this order.  Program staff will match an action appropriate with the misbehavior.


  • The child may experience the logical consequences of their actions.
  • The child may be redirected to an appropriate activity.
  • The child may be reminded of the program/school’s rules.
  • The child may be given “time-out” to reflect about their behavior.
  • The child may be put “off limits” from a piece of equipment or area of the site.
  • The parent/guardian may be called and required to pick up the child.
  • The parent/guardian may be contacted and a conference is arranged to discuss ways of solving the problem.
  • Child’s schedule may be reduced short term or permanently.