Adult Convenience Is No Excuse for Embarrassing Students
In this video, Dr. Justin Baeder argues that school practices that embarrass students for the sake of adult efficiency or convenience are never acceptable.
Key Takeaways
- Students' dignity matters - No policy or practice should humiliate students, regardless of how convenient it is for adults
- Examples are everywhere - Lunch debt shaming, public behavior charts, and calling out students by name for discipline are all forms of this
- Find a better way - Every embarrassing practice has an alternative that achieves the same goal without shaming students
Transcript
One of the first things that I put a stop to when I became a principal was the hand stamp.
When kids ran out of lunch money, the cafeteria lady would put an eagle stamp on the back of their hand so their parents would know.
I put an immediate stop to that.
We have got to protect kids' dignity.
school policy
equity
student development