Friday Schools: Changing student habits and behavior
As part of MacArthur’s progressive discipline plan, the three-hour detention known as Friday Schools aim to change misbehavior and poor work habits.
Every Friday students gather in the library to serve three hours of detention known as Friday Schools. Many students receive Friday schools for significant misbehavior, fifth missed assignment or any other progressive consequence. Any staff member can refer students to the counselors or administrators to receive a Friday school.
The purpose for giving out Friday school is to get the student out of the habit of reaching their fifth missed assignment, bad behavior, sixth tardy card, and or any other progressive consequence. This gets the students to become more responsible in the actions they make.
During their three hour detention, the students are expected to write a statement on why they are there and what they could do to improve returning back. The students are asked to write a reflective essay to prevent on returning. Depending on the reason why they are there, they do a review unit on Science, Language Arts, Math, and Social Studies. If they are in their for bullying or fighting, they read information for why it’s wrong and things they can do instead.
Most students who have attended Friday schools and have made a big progression. Assistant Principal Mr. Craig Johnson said, “We encourage to always do our best and be a MacArthur scholar so you don’t end up in Friday school.”
If eighth graders receive any Friday schools during second semester, beginning February 3, there is the additional consequence of losing privileges such as the Knott’s Berry Farm trip, eighth grade dance, slideshow, and possibly the promotion ceremony. On February 14, an assembly for eighth graders is held to have a discussion about their responsibilities and all expectations.
One student, speaking in anonymity, didn’t want to get any more Friday schools, so he wouldn’t have to sit in the library for three hours, wasting his time. He said, “I got a Friday school because I went to Lillie King Park while having to be at the after school program”.
Another student, also speaking in anonymity, learned his lesson by attending a Friday school by doing all of his homework at home and becoming an engaged student at Macarthur Intermediate School. He said, “I got a Friday school because I reached my fifth missed assignment on my homework card.”