NSU University School Faculty, Staff and Employee Handbook

41 DISCIPLINE, GENERAL The entire building staff is responsible for being alert to and modeling appropriate student behavior at any place on the school grounds. Consistency in adult expectations reinforces appropriate behavior among our students. When a staff member outside the classroom observes misbehavior of any kind, the student should be corrected then and there. All faculty and staff should respond to any inappropriate student’s behavior seen or heard outside of classrooms. There are many excellent practical guides for discipline both in your classroom and for discipline in general. Two good sources are Discipline with Dignity by Curwin and Mendler and The First Days of School by Harry Wong. Staff should avoid unnecessary and/or inappropriate displays of affection. Inappropriate displays such as any type of massage given by a child to a staff or a staff to a child, piggyback rides, touching knees or legs, wrestling with children, tickling and compliments that relate to physique or body development are prohibited by NSU University School. Side hugs, pats on the shoulder or back, arms around shoulders, holding hands(with smaller children in escorting situations) verbal praise and pats on the head when culturally appropriate are acceptable displays of affection. In order to create an atmosphere of respect among the staff and the children, NSU University School has defined appropriate and inappropriate verbal interactions. An inappropriate verbal interaction are those where harsh language that may frighten, threaten or humiliate children is used, making derogatory remarks about the adult or child or about their family, cursing, telling secrets, name calling, belittling, telling off color or sexualized jokes, shaming or discussing sexual encounters, or in anyway involving adult clients or children in the personal problems or issues of staff. Policies that define what constitutes acceptable and unacceptable discipline practices help staff recognize if violations occur, to report possible violations and to protect themselves from false accusations. Unacceptable discipline practices are the following: Hitting, spanking, slapping, shaking, physical exercises as a consequence, name calling, shoving, hair and ear pulling, biting, pinching, shaming, derogatory remarks, ostracism, restrains of children (mechanical tape, rope) and punishment as a result of toileting accidents. CORPORAL PUNISHMENT POLICY Section 1000.01(27), Florida Statutes, defines corporal punishment as: …the moderate use of physical force or physical contact by a teacher or principal as may be necessary to maintain discipline or to enforce school rules. However, the term "corporal punishment” does not include