JCBE/POLICY FILE: 451

Approved: 2/23/78

JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION PHILOSOPHY OF DISCIPLINE

Fundamental to the Jefferson County Board of Education's philosophy of discipline is the belief that each student has a basic need for the maintenance and enhancement of individual self-esteem. A misbehaving student is almost certainly a student who perceives the environment as a threat to self and the growth of self. Behavior can be modified as these perceptions change.

A student achieving some measure of success will generally aspire to accomplishment at a high level. Even disciplinary procedures should be structured toward success. It is the educator's responsibility in student discipline to establish limits and then guide the student in the process of cooperative problem solving within these limits toward the changing of behavior. Ultimately the Board's goal in student discipline is to modify undesirable behavior while maintaining a school environment which provides maximum learning opportunities for all students.