Smooth School Operation - Pedagogical Measures for Developing Social Behaviour
Discipline, although it is the result of education, is a pre-requisite for the enhancement of schoolwork and appropriate behaviour of children.
The issue of discipline in public primary schools is regulated by the Regulations for the Operation of Public Primary Schools of 2024 and relevant circulars (Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth Circulars 380/68/4 dated 05.08.1998 and 7.19.04.10/4 dated 24.09.2009). Appropriate behaviour of children is pursued through pedagogical persuasion, aiming at developing in each pupil the ability to self-discipline. The exercise of any form of psychological, verbal, or physical violence in schools, especially by adults, is explicitly and categorically prohibited.
The Ministry of Education, Sport, and Youth has prepared and sent to all schools a framework for a general code of good behavior. For the preparation of the code, educators, specialists, and the Ministry's Educational Psychology Department had participated. Based on the framework of the general code, at the beginning of the school year, a committee appointed in each school drafts the School Code of Conduct and Ethics. The draft School Code of Conduct and Ethics is the subject of discussion and processing within the classes. The final School Code of Conduct and Ethics is notified to all pupils, teachers, and parents and binds everyone to its implementation.
Additionally, each class in the primary school decides on its Special Code of Conduct and Ethics within the class. The provisions of the Special Code are within the framework determined by the General School Code and are formulated by the pupils of each class under the guidance of the class teacher. The Special Code of Conduct and Ethics binds everyone to its proper implementation, ensuring the smooth operation of the class.
The manifestation of antisocial/negative behaviour is linked in the Code of Conduct and Ethics with graded pedagogical measures/consequences, which constitute negative consequences for the specific pupil, each time, and a natural consequence of their antisocial/negative behaviour. The pedagogical measures/consequences, which have a corrective rather than punitive character, are applied systematically and without delay, so that the behaviour is directly linked to the pedagogical measure/consequence.
When a pupil violates one of the codes of good behaviour, the teacher, having exhausted all means based on persuasion, may use pedagogical measures/consequences, depending on the impact of the pupil's behaviour. The pedagogical measures/consequences are as follows:
Non-verbal warning from the teacher (for example, through eye contact)
Verbal or written remark by the teacher
Temporary removal from participation of class activities for a few minutes or change of seat
Deprivation of privileges or rights
Individual reflection activity
Corrective activity (such as restoring the previous state, apology)
Verbal and written (in a sealed envelope) briefing of parents/guardians by the teacher
Remark by the headteacher, privately or in the presence of a parent/guardian.
Regular presence of the pupil before the headteacher (morning and/or afternoon) for a reminder of expected behaviour or reflection on the day
Temporary confiscation of items not allowed in school and their delivery to the parent
Compensation for any material damage caused to school property or others', which is paid by the pupil's parent/guardian.
Community service during school hours under the supervision of a teacher
Discussion process in the presence of teachers and/or the school's administrative team and the pupil's parent(s)/guardian(s).
Stay in a suitable place for one period during the day, in the presence of a teacher. During this time, the pupil is involved in activities with pedagogical character.
Deprivation of participation in school events or activities for one period, daily, from one to five consecutive days.
Removal of the pupil from school for the specific day, accompanied by a parent or another person authorized by the parent.
Extended absence of the pupil from school, for safety reasons, for additional days (one to two days).
Implementation of an alternative education program for the pupil within the school.
Transfer of the pupil to a different class.
Transfer of the pupil to a different school.
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