Importance of Disciplinary Code and Policies for Students

We all have been reminded pretty much every other day that determination is the key to success. Well, it is arguably only the 1/5^th of the truth! If you analyse every available success-tip out there, you come up with total 5 keys to success which are- Determination, Passion, Skill, Luck and the most important of all, Discipline!

Discipline is a practice of regulation of human behaviour. It is an important aspect of our civilization that enables a human being to lead a successful life. Already termed as the key to success, discipline is mandated through a set of rules. Every governing organization has its set of disciplinary rules that are directed through codes and policies. Out of all fundamental organizations, education sector has the most important role to play on disciplinary grounds. They bear the responsibility of shaping young minds into ideal social beings. This is a huge responsibility that is aided by many factors, one of which is the disciplinary codes and policies of the educational institutions.   

 In this blog, I will be giving you a quick view of the disciplinary policies and codes that are crucial components of every education system in India and oversees as well. You will be able to understand the importance of these policies and also get to know about how discipline can be adopted for making a student’s life better.    

Some universal disciplinary policies for students

The disciplinary policies of any educational institution must comprise of codes and regulations that are coherent with every related member of the institution. Policies are the formal mandatory agreement between the community members of educational institutions and must be made with incorporation of following terms:

• The policies must be consistent with the National Education Act and legislation.
• They should clearly reflect the government and departmental policy.
• Mandatory disciplinary codes or school rules must be followed.
• Methodologies to encourage positive student behaviour, including specific strategies to maintain decorum and respect.
• Legit recognition and rewards for student achievements.
• Keep in check any inappropriate student behaviour.
• Incorporate the principles of procedural fairness.
• They should clearly reflect the significant needs of the educational community.
• There should be room for growth for existing disciplinary practices.
• The outlined details of the standards of ideal student behaviour.
• Cumulated standard responsibilities of teachers, students and parents.

Objective	Student disciplinary codes and polices provides a system to enhance learner’s growth. This task is accomplished by assigning responsibilities and limitations to an individual.
Code and conduct	The rules that are mandated in all student disciplinary policies are: · Students must maintain academic integrity at all times · Students are liable for their learning achievement · Students must display honest and ethical behaviour · Students must strive for academic excellence · Students must respect every rule of their educational environment · 100% commitment to learning · Students must abide by the disciplinary policies and codes
Student behaviour	These are the set of student behaviours that are assessed and guided: · Students must be respectful at all times. · Disruptive behaviour and use of inappropriate language will not be tolerated. Following language and disruptive behaviour is strictly not allowed: Use of profanity · Use of unkind and offensive language · Use of sarcasm · Use of threatening language · Any sort of behaviour either physically or online that disrupts the learning environment is prohibited · Any misconduct and false information will not be tolerated
Disciplinary actions	The disciplinary actions are taken in an order and are implemented on an individual who keeps their involvement in non-ethical behaviour. Here are basically 4 levels of severity of the misconduct: Stage 1: Disciplinary Warning This consist of a written notice regarding any behaviour that violates the student disciplinary code and policies Stage 2: Restriction Student is excluded from some learning modules Stage 3: Suspension Student is removed from learning programs for a certain amount of time period Stage 4: Expulsion It is the permanent removal of the student from the education system

What is the importance of disciplinary policies and codes?

These disciplinary policies are administered at local, state and confederate levels and comprises of rules and regulations that ensure the sanctity of education system. A fair, secured and accurate education ethic is all it protects. The policies and codes are used to determine the teaching methodology, curriculum structure and student management. They ensure that students are treated the way they should be in a sacred place of knowledge. These policies are the rule books of the education foundation that shape and nurture young minds.

Policies for student attendance

 Attendances are the requisite part of student life as they signify their participation level. Tallying the number of days a student is absent from the days he was present, confides a sense of responsibility in him. Excluding the well justified excused absences, absence of any kind is not easily tolerated. If the student remains absent for an alarming number of times, disciplinary actions are taken that are registered in school/college’s policies. These policies are mandatory to encourage students to attend and stay in school/college. Various surveys and reports suggest that repetitive absence and lack of academic activities has negative impact on student’s behaviour and may even cause social isolation and anti-social nature.

Stay in school kids! This phrase is very well written.

Policies for disciplinary actions

Disciplinary policies have amendments of giving punishment to students who violate rules and disciplinary codes. These policies act as checkposts for students to keep them in order. As mentioned above, disciplinary actions follow a pattern which comes into action if a student keep breaking rules. It starts with a fair warning and progresses to suspension and ultimately expulsion if the student keeps it up. Expulsion is quite extreme as it adversely affects student’s biodata and may end up in destroying any scope of desire of learning at all. For these reasons, suspension or expulsion are not a popular action and are only used as the last resort. Anyhow disciplinary policies are important to keep the students in order and remind them that their negative actions have consequences. Although it instills fear in students, but the basic idea is not exactly to make students follow the rules forcefully. Disciplinary policies implement these punishments as a learning tool for students to help them understand the importance of education, hence turning them into responsible individuals.  

Policies for precautionary and safety measures

Educational institutions are responsible for imparting academic knowledge as well as life lessons to students. Safety classes and precautionary lessons are made mandatory through disciplinary policies. These policies regulate basic drill routines that take care of certain scenarios such as, national emergencies, in case of a fire, medical assistance, terrorist attack, natural calamity, etc. Students might find these classes bothersome but in the time of actual distress, they stay alert and prepared. All those fire drills and monthly safety classes are regulated by disciplinary policies that ensure student’s safety.

Policies for fundamental human rights

Disciplinary policies are heavily responsible for determining equality among everyone. Every member of the education community is eligible for the fundamental human rights. Everyone is to be treated the same way with no exceptions. There is no place for discrimination based on caste, color, race, social status or religion in the vicinity of education system. Disciplinary policies makes sure that everyone is equally treated and is aware of his/her rights. These policies help in building the foundation for an ideal human being who is responsible, unbiased and righteous.

Ways to successfully implement discipline in educational institutions

Disciplinary policies and codes are mandatory parts of education system. They ensure the learning place is virtuous and ideal for students and teachers alike. However only setting out few rules and regulations is not sufficient. For establishing complete disciplinary harmony among students, a whole cumulated lot of factors are needed:

• Disciplinary rules to be implemented on every member of the educational institution. The list includes students, teachers and parents as well as higher authority figures. Students learn from parents and teachers, teachers learn from their leaders and the chain continues. Each member should follow the rules diligently as it has a direct impact on their successors.
• Parents are the first ever teachers for their children. It is their responsibility to set out best example to their kin by following a disciplined lifestyle themselves. After all, home is the original learning source.   
• Effective study-system management with periodic training and feedbacks.
• Enforcement of disciplinary policies implemented with correct observation of results.
• Increased parent-teacher interaction for estimating the effectiveness of disciplinary programs.
• Direct involvement of parents in their children’s development analysis.
• Credit and rewards to be given to exceptional candidates to motivate others.
• Expelling any negative activity completely as in its absence positive habits get opportunity to thrive.
• No tolerance to misbehaviour at all cost. Even a slight act of ignorance might prove dangerous.
• Encouragement for help and support.
• Consistency with disciplinary protocols and implementations.
• Effective follow-through of proper code and conduct.
• The disciplinary actions do-not have to be extreme for dealing with every situation. Students are vulnerable learners, even a slight lack of judgement is capable enough to push their boundaries. It has to be understood that every case is not similar and thus a proper understanding of the situation needs to be assessed before taking any action.
• The disciplinary policies are fair and square for everyone but it is the teachers’ and prefects’ responsibility to regulate them with complete honesty. There are no exemptions, including themselves.

To summarise this all

Honesty is the key to discipline. It is up to the student to remain honest even in weak moments. Self-analysis is usually the way to determine if you are up to the challenge.

Timely reminder should be circulated to every student that they are the future’s hopes. As clichéd it sounds, this is the ultimate truth that needs to be reminded. Students need to know that they are associated with high hopes and expectations both from their parents and teachers. Sometimes, a constant reminder sets its roots deep in student’s mind and turn into habit. What could be better than a disciplined attitude!