Behaviour and Discipline

Discipline in schools is an essential element in the socialization of children, in the formation of their characters and in the process of education. This requires the use of certain controls which, while not threatening children’s independence, self-esteem and self-confidence, will enable them to appraise their behaviour rationally in terms of what is right and wrong or appropriate and inappropriate.

Rule 130 - Rules for National Schools

The following is the text of Rule 130 as included in Circular 20/90. This rule was amended by Circular 7/’88.

1. The board of management has ultimate responsibility for discipline in the school under its management and a duty to ensure that a fair code of discipline applies therein. This code should be formulated by the principal and the teaching staff in consultation with parents and be approved by the board.
   
2. Teachers should have a lively regard for the improvement and general welfare of their pupils, treat them with kindness combined with firmness and should aim at governing them through their affections and reason and not by harshness and severity. Ridicule, sarcasm or remarks likely to undermine a pupil’s self-confidence should not be used in any circumstances.
   
3. The use of corporal punishment is forbidden.
   
4. Any teacher who contravenes sections 2 and 3 of this Rule will be regarded as guilty of conduct unbefitting a teacher and will be subject to severe disciplinary action.
   
5. Where the board of management deems it necessary to make provision in the code of discipline to deal with continuously disruptive pupils or with a serious breach of discipline, by authorising the chairperson or principal to exclude a pupil or pupils from school the maximum initial period of such exclusion shall be three school days
   
6. A special decision of the board of management is necessary to authorise a further period of exclusion up to a maximum of 10 school days to allow for consultation with the pupil’s or pupils’ parents or guardians. In exceptional circumstances, the board of management may authorise a further period of exclusion in order to enable the matter to be reviewed.
   
7. No pupil shall be struck off the rolls for breaches of discipline without the prior consent of the patron and unless alternative arrangements are made for the enrolment of the pupil at another suitable school.
   

Advice regarding suspension

The procedure followed prior to and during a period of suspension should be seen to be reasonable and scrupulously fair. In this regard the following guidelines may be helpful:

• a record should be kept in the school of all instances of serious misbehaviour by pupils;
• parents should be invited to meet class teacher, the principal and/or the chairperson to discuss serious incidents of misbehaviour;
• communications to parents regarding the suspension of a pupil or the possibility of suspension should be in writing. Copies of all correspondence should be retained;
• a written statement of the terms and date of the termination of a suspension should be given to parents;
• when a period of suspension ends, the pupil should be re-admitted formally to the class by the Principal; and
• where a satisfactory resolution of a problem is achieved, a pupil may be re-admitted to school within a suspension period at the discretion of the chairperson of the board and the principal.

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