Student Development Committee

Student Development Committee (SDC)

Members: Principal’s Discretion

Responsibilities:

1. Development of a rational and student development oriented disciplinary policy thus ensuring the development of a sound student disciplinary system which is targeted towards solving student problems in a way that leads to their development according to the teachings of Islam.
2. For disciplinary issues that are reported to the convener of this committee (see the Disciplinary Process below): The convener of SDC will call a meeting of all members (including the class teacher of the concerned student on an ad-hoc basis) and consult for a best disciplinary action.
3. Development of the student’s personality as a responsible and disciplined citizen (please see the section on Disciplinary process).

Possible Meeting time:

At least once a month or when a disciplinary issue comes up.

Class Teachers

Responsibilities:

1. Class Teachers are primarily responsible for student development. They are the first point of contact in case the student has ANY problem. In fact they are supposed to keep a watchful eye to ensure appropriate precautionary measures against potential
2. Class Teachers will also accompany the students during Assembly and Salaat.
3. They will conduct the school assembly when the turn of their class comes (they are to have a high degree of student involvement in the school assembly).
4. Class teachers will ensure that:

• Students are not overloaded or under loaded in homework
• Students come to class properly dressed
• Students are punctual
• Students abide by norms and regulations of Scholastic Islamiah
• Students are a source of inspiration and development for other newer students and not the other way around.
• Classrooms are neat and well-kept.
• Student records are kept up-to-date with the administration.
• And most importantly; liaison with the Parents and other subject teachers of her class in order to ensure that the child fully utilizes his/her potential.

Reports to:

Class teachers report directly to the Convener SDC.

Disciplinary Process

 

1. In case of disciplinary issues, the teacher will try to handle them himself/herself. Among other things one should try making dua and salaathajaat for the student, personal counseling, and discussion with the parents.  Teachers should abstain from assigning work that humiliates a student, or physically touching the students under all circumstances (including with love and affection). If the student is mentally absent/not attentive, then the teacher can slightly touch the desk of the child in order to get his attention.
2. Positive reinforcements should be given priority for disciplinary purposes. For example, a teacher can:
   • Give a star
   • Give a gift (chocolate etc.)
   • Reassure the student/praise
   • Counseling

Teachers should endeavor to be the “audience” for students; i.e. the student should aspire to do (or not do) things just because it would make the teacher happy (or unhappy).  This is only possible when the teacher is good at the subject, works hard, and shows care and empathy for the student.  In general, being an Islamic school for the elite, one has to work extra hard to win the hearts of the students with innovative, non-conventional (but soft) methods.  Teachers who find it difficult to teach without the conventional authoritarian style do not fit in the school.

3. The most important & effective practice to gain class control is to prepare the lesson thoroughly. Seating arrangement of the students can also be changed according to their performance/discipline.
4. If there is constant misbehavior despite repeated counseling, on part of any student, the teacher can assign extra duties, cancel sports periods, or make him stand for a while at the back of the class (such that the other students might not see him). If the problem persists despite this action, then the teacher can send him[2] to the class teacher.
5. The class teacher should also try counseling first, and if the problem persists, then can detain a student during sports period, or after school. If student is detained in sports period or after school, the class teachers should also send the name of the student along with the reason for detention to the administration. When the Class Teacher feels that (s)he has exhausted all the tools at his/her disposal (s)he should then refer the student to the Student Development Committee.
6. If the problem persists despite counseling by teacher AND class teacher (as well as detention), then the name of the student (along with the issue at hand) should be forwarded in writing to the student development committee convener. The SDC convener should also contact the parents of the concerned student. The SDC convener should counsel the student, and if necessary, suspend the students for a day or two, or suggest some other punishment in consultation with the SDC.  The recommendation of the Student Development Committee should then be passed on to the principal/ vice principal for approval and further action.
7. However, for major issues like vandalizing school property, stealing, threatening with an object, causing serious injuries to others, possession of dangerous objects, engaging in habitual profanity/vulgarity, smoking or possessing a cigarette, the student should be directly reported to the Principal/Vice-Principal for conference with parents and upto one week suspension. If the problem persists, or if the student engages in robbery, assault on school employee, drugs/alcohol consumption, possessing pornographic material, etc. the student should be immediately reported to the Principal/Shura and expelled from the school.
8. The shura will serve as the final appeals body for all disciplinary action.
9. Note that all punishments harsher than standing at the back of the class should only be implemented by someone other than the Teacher who initiates the punishment.
10. Making the students stand outside the classroom or on chairs is not advised.
11. Gates will remain open for five minutes (until 7:45 am) after school opening time. After five minutes the guards will lock the gate. The gates will reopen after forty minutes (8:20 am) of school opening time. For the next 20 minutes (8:20-8:40) children will be allowed to come in provided their parents can give a ‘reasonable’ excuse for their child(ren) being late.
12. In case of leaves, the students are required to submit an application prior to their absence.
    Parents of the students who are absent four times (in a month) without an application will be called to the school for counseling.
13. Students with improper uniform will be counseled by the Student development Committee convener and a note will be written on the diary (or sms). If the student has the same issue for a second time, he/she will be made to sit in the office for 10 minutes and another note will be written in the diary (or sms). If the same issue takes place for the third time, the parents will be contacted to take the child back home.
14. In a nutshell, teachers/administration should ignore most small issues, and turn the other way. The purpose us not to “punish” and “admonish”; the purpose is to help students improve behavior both in terms of duniya and aakhirat.  Too much admonishing makes the student insensitive to such action.  It is always the “fear” of reprisal that impacts the behavior of a student, much more than the reprisal itself. When we hand-out a punishment, we lose out on the positive impact (due to the fear factor) of that punishment on student behavior.  Hence if the student is being “punished” a lot then the school has failed.  On the other hand, if a problem persists and is hurting the student as well as other students in the school, and yet no action is taken, then also the school has failed.

1. This includes: Breaking rules, failing to follow teacher’s instructions, continuous neglect of class work/homework, interrupting teacher, eating/chewing in class during lessons, leaving class late and arriving late, incorrect school uniform despite reminders, name calling/teasing, verbal threats to students, spreading rumors, tardiness, …

2. The following behavior should be reported directly to the class teacher: aggressive behavior, significant disruption of lesson, non-cooperative behavior, derogatory remarks, using abusive language, hurting others, disrespectful to teacher, cheating,…

3. Indecent behavior, fighting with others that results in injuries, unacceptable letters, … should be reported directly to the SDC convener.