Classroom Management and Disciplinary Procedures

Each teacher has his or her own unique teaching style, and at Lake Stevens High School teachers reflect their style in their classroom management. LSHS has school-wide regulations that students are urged to follow and that teachers are urged to enforce.

Dress Code: At Lake Stevens High School, "Clothing, personal items, or other medium that promotes the use of tobacco products, alcohol or other drugs, inappropriate language, sexual innuendo, slang or gang slang, or is indecent, too revealing, or too suggestive is not allowed. Shirts and pants must be the type that covers the body in an appropriate and decent manner for school. Pants cannot be sagging below the hips and undergarments must be covered." Sunglasses, bandannas, do rags, or any other articles that school administration deems as inappropriate are not allowed during school or school events. Lake Stevens High School follows steps based on the offense and how often it's occurred. Students will have to change their clothes, wear clothes provided by the school, or call home for a change of clothes on his or her first offense. Second and third offenses call for one day or short term suspension depending on the severity.

Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs (ATOD): LSHS is strongly dedicated to maintaining a safe, drug-free environment through the strict and serious ATOD actions. "Any student under the influence of, in possession of, or soliciting for use or sale of drugs, drug paraphernalia, or alcohol will face immediate long-term suspension or expulsion." Again, depending on the frequency of the action, students may have a suspension reduction or expulsion depending on what step must be taken.

Cheating/Plagiarism and Closed Campus: Students are reprimanded for breaking the rules placed upon academic dishonesty and leaving campus during school hours with detention, Saturday school, and short-term suspension respectively.

Electronic Devices: Phone and MP3 expectations vary widely throughout each classroom. Overall, students are not allowed to use cell phones nor MP3 players during class time, and may be confiscated for the remainder of the day if used. Some teachers, however, allow MP3 players to be used during individual work time. Other teachers do not enforce the MP3 rule and allow students to leave in one ear bud throughout the period. Personally, I do not think that MP3 players, and especially cell phones, are needed in the classroom and would use the allowance of MP3 players as a reward for those who prove responsible enough during silent work only (i.e. silent reading, individual worksheets). Music players would not be allowed in my classroom during tests, discussions, note-taking, or group work--not even one ear bud in.

Tardies and truency are actions that many teachers struggle with. According to the LSHS handbook, students are sent to in-school suspension (ISS) for excessive tardies or for skipping class. Many educators do not understand why missing class is a punishment for missing class, therefore many teachers create their own retributions.

Faculty and staff are also dedicated to keeping a safe environment free of harassment, intimidation, and bullying and are sure to watch over students during class and between classes in the hallways.

Every teacher that I spoke with today encouraged the use of a stern, consistent disciplinary routine that I follow when I first meet my students at the beginning of the year or semester. Ms. Herron advised that as a new teacher, "we can be friendly without being friends." This mentality will create and maintain a professional yet comfortable environment for all students as well as myself.