As a 19-year-old Marine, I received a meritorious
commendation for designing a logistics system
and process for embarkation, which allowed for
our unit to be deployed faster. Compiling and
maintaining logistics support data, calculating
combat logistics support requirements, and
coordinating combat logistics functions to
support Marine Corps operations
and deployments were an emerging
field made more difficult prior to the
prevalence of computer systems. I have
had a lifelong fascination with systems
and processes ever since.
unruly students take away from students who
wish to learn.
In order to maintain control in the classroom,
policies must be clearly defined. Let’s be
clear, today’s infractions are not chewing gum,
being out of a seat, or throwing paper. Reports
Systems and processes are what
makes everything work, from the most
complex to the seemingly insignificant.
A system consists of interconnected and
interdependent components organized
to accomplish a specific goal. The
processes are the things you do in order
to make any given system work most
efficiently. In education, all schools,
regardless of where they are located,
are very dependent on systems and
processes for success.
So why are teachers frequently often left
out of the process? In the last six years,
student discipline has been one of the
major issues in Tennessee that educators
cite as an issue that we must address.
Common sense would indicate that more
teacher participation in student discipline
issues might improve job satisfaction,
address teacher retention, and solve
more student behavioral issues. Student
discipline is one of the major reasons
why teachers say they are leaving the
profession. All educators understand
that students will misbehave. However,
classroom teachers hope that they have
an administrator who reinforces and
supports their authority to maintain discipline in
the classroom.
Unfortunately, not having a high-quality
administrator at every school often means
good discipline is even more difficult. Teachers
set the discipline for their classrooms, but
administrators set the culture for their school.
Administrators that do not support classroom
teachers and set lenient discipline policies
end up creating learning environments where
include offenses of a sexual nature, cursing
teachers, fights, and sometimes even worse.
Frequently students are allowed to do things in
school that could land them in jail when, and
if, they graduate. Student discipline is now a
time-consuming and exasperating issue, and
teacher input has rarely been solicited.
Superintendents of School and Boards of
Education can establish policies that can
improve the process. One thing is certain
- all it takes is one rebellious student who