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A school WWYD
I teach grade three in a great community and I really love my students. In my class I use money (fake) as behaviour incentive. They get allowance weekly and sometimes some money for starting their work right away or taken away if they are misbehaving. I also have a game in my class with the same kind of money in it. Yesterday was choice time and store and there were lots of kids playing (and some just going up to) this game. I was doing agendas and other stuff before I started store time and so I wasn't paying super close attention. Well as store started (they purchase small candy and toy items with their "money") and there was some accusations that some people had stolen money out of the game. I tried to ask those accused and they had some pretty good "innocent" faces. Only one kid actually fessed up.
So because of this I closed the store right then (some were purchasing from their stealings I suspect). They continued choice time and I went to talk to a couple other teachers to get their feedback.
So at this point- I know at least one stole, I have strong suspicions over others. The others that I have suspicions over are the same people who have the "innocent" faces when anything happens that they are accused of. But I have no clue as to who stole and who didn't. Everyone had access to this game. They also don't keep record of their income and spending. I have been agonizing about what to do since this happened.I gave them a big talk right after about stealing and how serious it was, and about telling the truth. I also said I had a big decision to make about how we were dealing with money.
These are what I feel my options are, feel free to weigh in.
1. Talk to the accused again, divide and conquer style so that I can hopefully get the full story. Only punish those who admit.
2. Take back everyone's money, start from zero. The hard and fast punishment that will hopefully make those who stole feel bad that those who didn't lost their money. Most of them won't have a lot to lose because we just had store and they spent their money. Yet not everyone got store time because I closed it mid-way.
3. Take back money from everyone who has over a dollar. They get 25 cents a week so likely whoever has more has gotten it from somewhere. Although there are a couple students who I know have been saving for some bigger items in the store.
This is a huge ethical lesson to teach them at this point. Regardless of what I decide we are now going to be using record books (cheque books) to record income and spending.
I definitely have one I am leaning towards but I would really like your opinions.
Re: A school WWYD
I really don't think it's fair to punish the other students, so I say options # 2 and 3 are out. Of the above options I say go with #1, but really I think I would let it go and just keep a closer eye on it in the future. The chequebook is a great idea, both to keep them math skills and to keep peoople honest. In all likelihood the kids who stole will be too worried to use the stolen money anyway, IMHO.
Hmm tough one.
I don't like #1 because that'll teach those who lie that they can get away with it.
I'll probably be the the minority but my teachers would have all gone with #2 and it's unfortunate but I don't think there is a real way to tell who actually took the money or not. And basically since you'll be starting over anyhow with the cheque books, it might be easiest.
#3 sounds like it has the potential to punish some kids who were good as well as those who were bad.
Good luck! Let us know what you end up doing.
#2
I agree with this. There's no way you can be sure to get the truth out of the culprits and I really wouldn't want to punish the whole class. You've already given them the big talk; I'm not sure further punishment days later would be effective.
Also, I just want to say that my Grade 3 teacher did something similar with "money" and a "store" and I loved it! She was my favourite teacher all through school.
Whenever there is deceit in my classroom, I try not to punish the whole class. It's unfair, and lets the culprits get away with it.
I would let it drop and try a new approach (ie. chequebooks). It's easier for you to monitor "transactions" this way, and is a teachable moment.
I have done the hard core investigative style, pulling kids one at a time to tell me what they know and I eventually find the guilty party(ies). I do firmly believe that those who do wrong should have to accept blame and learn from the choices they made. Now that you've already given the talk, let this be strike one and if a situation like this arises again, you do need to get to the root as soon as possible to nip it in the bud. Otherwise, you'll find you'll have more situations like this because the kids will know nothing bad will come of it.
I agree with all of this. Punishing all isn't fair. The lecture has been made. At this point I would move forward and use the entire incentive and stealing experience as a teaching opportunity. I agree with the chequbooks to help them with their math skills. How about having them work in groups to put together a rulebook for the classroom? Maybe have them talk about the effects of bad behaviour on themselves and others? My 4th grade teacher did this and it certainly had an impact on us.
Alright, thanks for all the advice. I was strongly leaning towards #2 initially but I am going to talk to the principal in the morning (he was away on Friday).I am also going to give them time tomorrow to write what they think should happen and open that up if anyone wants to confess.
I have had so many different opinions. I just really need to figure out what is the most important lesson in all this. I will let you know tomorrow what I decide.
I have no other suggestions, but good luck on your decision!