Writing As Punishment - A Rant

This is a huge pet peeve of mine that I simply do not understand. Schools are still using writing as punishment. It's wrong, wrong, wrong and the stupidity in such "punishment" really makes me angry. Maybe it's one of those things that is done because it's, "always been done," and some never think twice about the ramifications and the message that is sent. If that's the case, then it's time to wake some people up.

The scenario is usually something like this: Johnny or Sally is late for class (or some such thing), and the teacher tells them that their punishment will be, "a writing assignment." Ugh. In the mildest form it is usually the old, "I WILL NOT ________" 100 times on the board or on paper. This is bad enough as it makes the connection between pen and paper and punishment. However, at its worst, the "punishment" is an actual writing assignment. Maybe it's an essay on why it's important to not be late. Maybe it's a report on anything, as long as it is X number of words. Sometimes it is a two-page biographical sketch of the student's choice. (In and of itself - an excellent educational activity!) But as punishment? The message is clear. If you, Johnny or Sally, do something wrong you may very well be forced to write - and we know how much you hate to write! (Or if you don't hate to write, you should!)

The basis of this punishment is an assumption that nobody actually likes to write. Can you imagine? As punishment, you will have to learn about somebody and put your reflections - on paper! In other words, research and (God forbid) writing is such an awful activity, that if you do something wrong - you are stuck with pen and paper, or in front of a computer screen to do something more than play games. You will have to.....to.....to..... write!

How stupid can we be? How have we let this go on as long as it has? Do you need a Masters in Education to see how crazy this is? Well....forget that last sentence....many of them are the very people who perpetuate this atrocity. You might very well need to step away from the education establishment to see the absurdity in using writing as punishment.

What can we do? If you agree, and you find your schools are using writing as punishment - complain. Loudly. In person - and in, uh, writing. If you have children and they are "threatened" with a writing assignment as discipline, it's time to call the teacher and make an appointment. Many teachers when presented with the common-sense of NOT using this method will hit their forehead and say, "What was I thinking?," others though will fight to the bitter end because that's what they were taught. If they claim it is school policy - time to make the appointment with the principal. If the principal claims it is district policy - time to write that speech for the school board.

Writing as punishment? What a horrible message to send our children. Let's all - all of us who love pens, pencils, paper, books and writing - do our part to help change this upside-down kind of thinking about writing. No more writing as punishment. Period.

Comments

[Al]

None of those opinions against the writing assignment form of punishment have mentioned any alternative means of punishment or consequence. They just go on and on about how repetetive writing can be a detriment to creativity.

With some kids, positive reinforcement doesn't go far enough
to solve problem behavior and punishment is necessary.

I believe that sentence writing is effective because it will deny a badly behaving child of their free time. It can also teach them how to better manage their time. If they complete their sentences without wasting time, then they can have their free time back sooner.

Either way, they will think twice next time about how they should behave.

[Kelli]

My straight A, Principal's list student just received a writting assignment to write a paragraph about the offence, then repeat it 24 more times. This seems excessive. I agree that he should write a "journal" stating his regrets and what he has learned about his actions but that is where it should end!! The offense was his lack of responsibility in being prepared for class. They were given a packet on a writting a speech that was voluntary however his teacher is making it mandatory. He lost the packet and now has received the punishment of writting and detention. Do you think that next year when this same speech contest comes around again he is going to want to do it on his own? I doubt it, the whole program now has a dark cloud over it.

[cate]

On Condemning the Use of Writing as Punishment

1984

NCTE Annual Business Meeting in Detroit, Michigan

Background

This resolution stemmed from concern among teachers of English about research findings showing continued widespread use of writing as punishment by teachers and administrators in elementary and secondary schools. Using writing for punishment, NCTE members warned, distorts the principles and defeats the purposes of instruction in this important life skill and causes students to dislike an activity necessary to their intellectual development and career success. Be it therefore

Resolution

Resolved, that the National Council of Teachers of English condemn punitive writing assignments;

that NCTE discourage teachers, administrators, and others from making a punishment of such writing as copywork, sentence repetition, original paragraphs and themes, and other assignments which inhibit desired attitudes and essential communication skills; and

that NCTE disseminate this opinion to the appropriate audiences, including the general public.

[Jennifer]

I am a teacher myself in a top five state school. I have also almost completed my masters. I absolutely love writing and infact teach Literacy which is basically reading and writing! I, however, also believe in using writing as a punishment. Writing can serve many purposes. One such purpose is creative writing. However, there is nothing wrong with having a child copy a paragraph about why what they did was wrong and how they can learn from it, x amt. of times. This activity takes away from time that can be spent on other things he or she would rather be doing, as well as becomes a reminder of why they should follow the rules. It doesn't take away from their possible love of creative writing and other such writing types. I absolutely love writing creatively, but does anyone actually enjoy writing a 10 page research paper on an assigned topic no matter how old you are? Usually not. So there is nothing to say that giving a child one type of writing assignment is going to take away their love of all writing. Just like if you don't like one book or one genre of a book, it does not mean you don't like reading at all.

Have some of you ever been in a classroom? Some states and districts now say we cannot take away recess time because of needed physical activity, so that cannot be done (not to mention, middle school doesn't have recess). You cannot go straight to detention for small offenses, and some districts don't even have detention at the elementary level. So what, might I ask, would you propose as a punishment? Parents are so concerned these days on their child getting disciplined and in trouble. God forbid there are consequences for their actions! Our choices for those consequences are becoming quite limited! I don't see anything wrong with having to fill out a paper such as a "Stop and Think" where a child needs to write about what they did wrong and have a parent sign it, or copying a paragraph x times on why they should not continually be disrupting class and how it is disrespectful to the teacher and classmates trying to learn and that it wastes valuable time, etc. Without consequences, there is no classroom control!

[Chad]

Hi,

You have a nice rant against writing sentences, but offer no alternative with which to replace it. I agree with natalie when she says the content is important. I make up long sentences for my kids when they misbehave, like "I will respect my teachers and follow directions. I will use respectful language when addressing others."
I am not a teacher, I am a foster parent. I don't think teachers should assign sentences, especially 1000. I ask the teachers to call me and work out a solution together. Often there is an apology letter (sorry if that is a basis for another rant) that gets written to the teacher in addition to any other punishment.

[ms. a]

I second Ralph's comment. Detentions are unenforceable in a low-income district like mine (no student will show up), very few parents discipline or are able to discipline their children (parent phone calls are next to worthless), and the office does allow many referrals to be written.

How else do you punish high schoolers? Taking away a bathroom pass is one way, but if they act up again, and you've already taken it, there is nothing left... while I would never assign essays, monotonous copying is a necessary evil..

[Kris]

I do not like using writing as a punishment for negative behavior; However, my students are given a paper to write a reflection statement on what they did, how they feel about it, and how it affects others. We use the reflection statements as opportunities to learn life skills. These posts are old, but I wanted to write my current opinion on the subject matter.

[William]

I agree that it is bad to associate writing with tedious torture. But what I cannot stand is when a teacher makes the whole class write because there are two jackoffs misbehaving! it drives me nuts, this good suffer for the bad BS!

[Rachel]

I indeed just gave one of my classes an assignment such as this. It was to write a 200 word paragraph on why you should not talk during class. I did not assign this to "punish them by making them write," I assigned this to make them think about the ramifications of their constant chatter on themselves as well as the rest of the class. Writing is an excellent way to get your ideas out and a great way for me to know that they gave it some thought. And maybe, just maybe they will think before they open their mouths tomorrow.

[William]

Rachel is an uneducated fool. Writing does nothing. First off, the kids wouldn't even write what they are given. Second, if you think they're putting thought into it, you are very unintelligent. All they do is write bullshit down. Why punish the whole class for one reject's misbehaving? Writing as punishment DOES put a bad association with writing.

[xxx]

yap,, why should all the teacher using writing as a punishment??!!!
I really hate it!! I already done that kind of punishment in my detention time I must copying 8 pages of novel in 1 hour, but I only make 3 pages. I got that detention because of my misbehave, and I think its only torture my hand, and I never see any benefit from that punishment.

[how to write a masters dissertation]

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[Shannon Cathey]

To comment on the teacher's Ralph section: My child was made to write sentences (125) for punishment for not showing his work in math. That is outlandish to me. Punishment in one subject for another.

Shannon

[Dr Paul]

If discipline in the classroom is an issue. Then the teacher is not keeping the students on task. There are numerous studies on how positive re-enforcement is the key to management of behavior. Imposing punishment for behavior is a common practice. However, do children really understand the rules? What is unacceptable behavior? Our society has labeled what is acceptable and unacceptable. Posit there are laws that make certain actions punishable.
Aside from children committing acts that are punishable by law. What do we impose on children in our school systems as acceptable behavior and unacceptable? For example, running in the halls. Why is the unacceptable? One it can lead to personal injury. So, the rule prevents this occurrence. So, we are concerned with student safety. Pointing out to a student who violates this rule that he or she can cause injury to themselves or others would be a positive enforcement. However, having the student write 100 times “I will not run in the halls” only tells them the same rule. This does not teach them the consequence of their actions only re-tells them not to run. If the telling the student the rule was enough then they would have not committed the act.
Let us look at another example. In all cases if you go to the store and buy a electic drill you will find in instructions a safety warning “WEAR EYE PROTECTION”. Why does the manufacture tell us this? Because the use of a drill can present the environment that our eye can be injured by flying debris. So ,what are my consequences if we don’t wear eye protection, loss of sight. A pretty serious injury. Not sure I know anyone who wants to loss their sight. So, why do people not follow this precaution? They have never experience the consequence. So ,then if you see your friend not using eye protection will you impose the punishment of writing lines? “I WILL USE EYE PROTECTION” 100 times?
Of course not, your friend would think you are nuts. However, if you showed them examples of loss of sight (the consequence) then they might think about obeying the rule.
Writing lines to enforce behavior is a waste of time. The student will not learn consequences.

[Dr Paul]

Ralph,

Ask the student to stop disrupting the class. Explain how their behavior prevents others from learning. If they continue have them removed. Call the parents and point out the consequences of the child’s behavior. No, not continued punishment on the child. But their child’s disrupting class prevents others from learning.

[Dawn]

In some ways, most of you have a point. We don't necessarily want writing to be seen as always something "awful" that has to be done. However, in the right context, I think it can be an appropriate response to misbehavior. For example, I have a student who recently took out another student's instrument and played with it without that student's permission (there was a substitute teacher in the room who was not aware that the instrument was not his - obviously, if I had been there, this would never have occurred in the first place). This student has a major problem with understanding the idea of respecting someone else's belongings, and detentions, referrals, etc have not been proven effective for this student. However, I am considering asking him to write an essay on why it is not ok to use someone else's instrument without permission - he needs to think about the consequences of his behavior from an intrinsic point of view. I believe this will more closely resemble a "natural consequence" than having him hang around after school staring at my wall.

[Mandy]

My 9 year old brought had to 'write standards' as homework for misbehaving in class. I don't personally have an issue with it, and have on occasion had the kids write things here at home.

[term paper writing]

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[Asha]

I am a teacher. I am also a parent whose son's whole 1st grade class had to write punishment because they were being loud in the hallway. How about have them write about what they did wrong and how they could change it next time (a reflective paper) or something. I don't send him to school so that he can constantly copy words off the board that have no meaning. He is a good kid and he is going to hate writing if the teacher continues this approach for discipline.