Behavior Management Policies in Whitehill Secondary School

This article discusses the behavior management policies implemented in Whitehill Secondary School to support inclusive student participation and engagement in class and school activities. The policies include classroom management plans, counseling programs, sports activities, and more.

Running head: BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT POLICIES
Behavior management policies
Name
Student affiliations

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Introduction
I work at White hill secondary school, and I am in the management team of the school.
We formed a committee, and I was chosen to be the team leader of the committee. We were
working on various tasks, and I was asked to investigate whole the school’s behavior
management policies by critically analyzing and evaluating systems that support inclusive
student participation and engagement class and school activities. Behavior management in school
generally refers to the process by which a school administration and in the teachers of a specific
school develop and maintain proper conduct that is, the behavior of students in classroom
settings and the school in general (Olson et al. 2018). For any institution to perform correctly, it
has to have appropriate behavior management policies. These policies ensure that the behavior of
any child or any member of an institution does not have any adverse effect on other members or
beneficiaries of the institution.
It is the work of to address and control any undesirable behavior that arises. Behavior
management, especially in school, is essential because every student should be protected from
any form of bad behavior, whether mental, physical, emotional or verbal. Every student has the
right to be treated in a just and fair manner. Schooling aims to raise students who are so
disciplined so that they can become better and productive citizens of a country in the future. We
all know that without discipline success becomes very difficult. This is because it is the
discipline that keeps the school going and keeps people focused towards their goals (Dubois, &
Eyckmans, 2015). Regulation is the one that enables people to go an extra mile, and that is the
way to success. Secondary students are still young and need to be guided continually to the right
paths as far as discipline is concerned. This is now the importance of behavior management

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policies in a school. Behavior management in schools is a process and has policies and strategies
that are usually adhered to when implementing it.
First, I decided to start my research by analyzing various aspects of student life when in
school. The reason for this was to establish the many practices set by the behavior management
policies to see whether the methods support inclusive student participation and engagements in
class and student activities (Maag, 2016). I first started by analyzing how students are taught in
classes to see whether the practices used to ensure student participation and engagements in the
ranks. I did this analysis through observation of ongoing lessons and by talking face to face with
various students from different levels. In Whitehill secondary school, one method that teachers
used in classes was by first giving direct instructions to the students. Here, the teachers came to
class and introduced the various topics and taught the students first. This is to provide them with
an understanding of what is being shown so that they can grab the content first (Luthans, & Doh,
2018).
The teachers here have all the authority in the class where they coach and facilitate the
students learning and the overall understanding of materials being used. The teachers then gave
room for the students to ask any questions concerning the content or the topic taught. Not only
were they to ask questions but also the teachers gave them an opportunity to make any comments
concerning what the teacher had taught (Spies, Scheller, & Bolte, 2018). I also noted that the
teachers gave the students various instructions at the beginning of every lesson. For example, one
teacher instructed that if one had a question, he or she should raise his or her hand or uses
phrases like ‘excuse me, sir or madam.' The teacher also instructed that no student should speak
while another student was speaking. This to me was an impressive thing as it showed that proper
behavior management policies were being implemented in the school. The practice of allowing

BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT POLICIES 4
students to ask questions, comment and not interrupt one another was one way of promoting
inclusive student participation and engagements in class. The teachers also formed students
discussion groups where the teachers gave questions or various topics to each group to discuss.
This helps every student to get a chance to contribute and learn more from each other (Allison,
Farmer, & Spradling, 2016). However, the teachers did not have a decision, or instead, they
were indifferent about the types of punishments that they should give to the students.
Secondly, I looked at how students at our school, Whitehill secondary school took part in
sports activities ( Kerzner et al. 2017). The school timetable for every class has a time scheduled
for games every single day. When students are physically fit, they tend to succeed and achieve
more academically. The different sports activities help the student to develop a sense of
friendliness among them because they get to interact with those of different classes. Sports
activities also help the students to build their team spirit (Kellner et al. 2017). This is very
important as students can learn how to work together not only in the field but also when doing
class work. Sports improve the wellbeing of the students as well as their blood circulation. This
improves their mental toughness that is essential for their class work as it promotes their
participation and engagement in school activities.
The school also allows the students to take part in an inter-school sports competition,
where our students get the opportunity to compete with students from other schools. Winners of
different sports are given various awards. This serves as a motivation for the students to actively
participate in the school activities (Lewin et al. 2016). When students take part in sports
activities, it helps them to reduce stress and pressure that helps improve the student's behavior as
they are thinking well. This is because sports help develop the student's mental health. In
addition, teams are usually penalized for any indiscipline and can be disqualified from the

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tournament. This behavior management policy allows the students to maintain discipline and
ethical conduct. This practice of encouraging the students to take part in sports activities has not
only improved the student's behavior but also has supported student participation and
engagement in school activities (Adamek, Darrow, & Jellison, 2014). The only problem was that
there were no strict rules that required every student to be in the field or to take part in a sports
activity.
Thirdly, another practice that takes place at our school, Whitehill secondary school is the
availability of special classes for various classes on Thursday evenings. In these classes, a
professor or an expert comes to talk to the students about the importance of adherence to school
rules and routines. Routines are usually the backbone of daily school life. They ensure proper
teaching and learning goes on in school (Bottino et al. 2016). Methods help the students to not
only be good time-keepers when in school but also when they are at home and even in the future
when they will be grown-ups. Routines also make student life more comfortable and help them
achieve more.
The individual classes also teach the importance of adhering to school rules. This
enforces the virtue of obedience among the students that is a significant aspect of a person's life.
The purity of obedience to rules shows that you have respect for the governing authority and
hence you are labeled as a respectable person (Bourke-Taylor et al. 2018). Willingness shows
that you have trust in those making decisions. Obedience, respect, and trust are excellent
behavior that every institution especially schools always aim to instill in their students. They
usually advocate for respect among each other and also respect or teachers and all members of
the school. Adherence to the set school rules and routine here in Whitehill secondary school is a

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practice that has supported inclusive student participation and engagement in class and school
activities.
In Whitehill secondary school, we have counseling programs for students. In these
counseling programs, various issues are discussed. Mostly, the age between 7-9 is when the
young people are in the period of change where they are transitioning to young adults. The
transition brings about many changes in the young student's life, and therefore the counseling
services are meant to support the development. Some students struggle to cope with those
changes ( Shahidullah, 2018). Encouraging the students during this crucial time is helpful for
their wellbeing and emotional health. Managing these transitions successfully helps the young
student’s transition into adulthood with confidence.
During the counseling programs, one counselor told me that they encourage the students
to develop self- awareness that is, trying to concentrate on them to understand their self in a
better way. They are also urged always to know their beliefs and have their own opinions about
many topics from a relationship perspective. This helps the student to be open-minded and
improve their reasoning capabilities (Kaufman, 2018). They are also advised to always learn
from their own and others experiences. This is very important because it helps the students
always to reflect on how their behaviors affect other students and hence they can act in a manner
that does not negatively influence other students. The practice of learning from others
experiences is that it supports inclusive student engagement in their activities.
The method of counseling students is one way that helps to reduce and stop indiscipline
cases more especially among students. Counseling promotes dialogue, where a student can air
out their problem, and the counselor helps to solve it unlike in some cases where a student does

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not have anyone to share with their difficulties hence end up involving themselves in indiscipline
cases. This also enhances the student's performance and participation in both class and school
activities. Counseling helps one understand the consequences of one's behavior. My analysis
should that ever since the introduction of these counseling classes, the cases of bad behavior that
have been reported have reduced by a significant percentage. This is the main aim of this
practice that was introduced by the behavior management policies of this school. When student’s
behavior improves, they become keener on the activities that take place in a school that means
that their participation and engagement levels in class and school activities generally increases
(Haas et al. 2014). Counseling helps one understand the consequences of one's behavior.
However, the counseling programs did not involve one to one conversation with a counselor, but
the counselors offer their services to the students as a group.
Another practice that has supported inclusive student participation and engagement in
class and other school activities is the fact that in Whitehill secondary school, you are
responsible for your conduct and behavior. The administration of Whitehill secondary school
believes that any form of expression is a choice. One decides to act this way or that way. We
know that some students are easily influenced by their peers, and that is why any form of
behavior is viewed as a choice to reduce the lousy peer influence. Students, therefore, have to
accept the responsibility for their behavior (Hajer, & Van Dijk, 2016). Behavior expectations of
students here at Whitehill secondary school are usually set and are always consistent to avoid
any confusion and promote ethical conduct among the students. When all students are disciplined
and own up to their mistakes, then participation and engagement in school and class activities
become more comfortable.

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The introduction of a classroom management plan has also helped to support inclusive
student participation and engagement in class and school activities significantly. The teachers of
Whitehill secondary school came up with a rule where at the beginning of each semester they all
have a meeting with their students and set specific rules with their students. The aim of these
meetings is usually to increase the student’s level of involvement, commitment, and
connectedness to the learning process. It is through good behavior, however, that the students'
desire and commitment to learning increases (Read, & Papka, 2016). The teachers discussed with
their student's rules governing lateness to classes, missing of classes, sleeping during lessons and
many other things that concern the conduct of students in the class. The teachers and the students
then agreed to follow the decisions that they had made without.
They also agreed on the consequences of violating those rules that they had set. I asked
one of the teachers the importance of this classroom management plan, and the teacher said that
the mutually set rules were very good in regulating the student's behavior as it helps them to
know very well what they are supposed to do and the consequences of their actions. It is difficult
to go against the principles that you have set for yourself especially if you are aware of the
adverse effects of not adhering to the set principles. For example, in one class the teacher and the
students agreed that every week each student should have said something in class whether it is
asking for questions or answering questions. Failure to do this had its consequences too.
Inclusive education involves supporting the efforts of all the students, making all of them
feel welcome in school despite their various challenges. Whitehill secondary school accepts both
students with and those without disabilities. This is because those students with disabilities can
still do what those students without disabilities can do. The students in Whitehill are all taught to
accept all students just the way they are. They are shown that no one is superior and the virtue of

BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT POLICIES 9
equality is highly emphasized. Students with disabilities can gain more academically; their
communication skills also improve because they are free to talk to other students without fear of
being discriminated unlike in other places where the disabled students are discriminated. They
are also able to make more friends as everyone is taught to be friendly and courteous (Farmer, &
Floyd, 2016). This improves their self-esteem that is essential for one's growth. Other students
who are not disabled also benefit by learning with the disabled students as they get to interact
with them and change some of the stereotypes that exist about the disabled students. They can
have positive attitudes through their interactions with disabled students. They increase their
learning capabilities and knowledge also. This practice supports inclusive student participation
and engagement in class and school activities (Mort, 2017).
This behavior management policy of teaching equity to all students is a very lovely
policy that encourages all students to take part in school and class activities actively.
Recommendations
I noted that the teachers taught their classes well while emphasizing the values of appropriate
behavior. For example, they gave them instructions on what to do and the rules to adhere to
while in school. However, the teachers did not have a specific form of punishment to give to the
students the various mistakes committed. I talked to some students, and some of them
complained that they were being punished unfairly unlike others who had committed the same
errors as them (Mort, 2017).
The teachers also did not know what specific punishments to offer for specific crimes
committed. I, therefore recommend that we as a leadership team sit down and discuss the various

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particular disciplines to be administered to appropriate penalties to avoid the many complaints by
the students.
Another recommendation I would like to make is that private sessions with counselors be
introduced. Most of the students that I talked to wanted the counseling programs, but they said
that they would love individual counseling where they can speak to counselors one on one
because there are some issues that they cannot address in public during the counseling sessions.
The students also would love the introduction of various sports activities so that they can all take
part in sports activities. I would recommend that the school purchase more sports resources that
would include the funds for indoor games so that every student can take part.
Conclusion
In general, behavior management policies in school refer to the acceptable code of
conduct that the students are required to adhere to while in school. Some appropriate behaviors
that the students are supposed to follow such as being obedient, respectful, the trustworthy
students not only helps the student while at school but also are fundamental virtues that will help
the student as they look for work in the future and during their interaction with many people after
school. Being taught how to live with the disabled students is also very important as it helps
them from an early age to learn how to live and associate with everyone. The above practices
discussed above have supported inclusive student participation and engagement in class and
school activities.

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