What is everyone doing about discipline in the library? For instance: do you have computer use rules? ...rules for signing in, library use over lunch (before and after school), food or drinks in the library, etc.? How do you enforce those rules? How do you handle someone breaking those rules? ...how do you handle "ditchers" or unruly kids?Sometimes, at Skyline, we feel that we have turned into a police state. We don't want to discourage use of the library, for anyone, but yet we have to make it a place for academic exploration and study, quiet reading time, and constructive use of the facilities. Therefore, we have set up some rules of use.
ALL students must sign in unless they are with a scheduled class (we check the sign in sheet for those who have 'forgotten' where their class is). They MUST have a pass if they do not have a free period. Here are a few of our rules:
- Food & drinks are allowed, but NEVER at the computers.
- Cell phones aren’t allowed in the LMC (almost impossible to enforce). We don’t allow cell phones at the computers.
- Computers are for ACADEMIC USE ONLY. We now have SynchronEyes to help us enforce that rule. Our computer rules are published HERE. (use your back key to return to this page)
- Noise and talking must be kept at a reasonable level.
Those are just a few to spur some discussion. We'd be interested to know how other schools handle discipline issues; what kind of rules do you have, what are expectations of student in the LMC, and how do you handle discipline issues?
Comments?
2 comments:
We have computer usage rules posted at each computer. Kids have to sign in during lunch only. We use SynchronEyes to help kids stay on task, and check who is on each computer (unless with a class) which we cross-reference their schedule. If they don't have a pass, they go back to class. We allow food/drink (with a lid) that we sell anywhere, except during lunch, and then drinks only. If students regularly go to sites they are not supposed to, we limit their computer usage to "with a teacher present only". We are trying to stay away from the "police state" or "babysitting" that we felt was happening in years past, and SynchronEyes has been a HUGE help. Some students hate it, but most understand it's use and think it's kind of funny when their classmates get locked out. I hear more complaints that we can't sell food during lunch than that the students don't feel welcome, or feel they are constantly being "watched".
Thanks Kim...I too think that kids can feel welcome and that the library is a comfortable (or even fun) place to be. The rules are generally understood -- even welcomed. I think that SychronEyes should be in every schools' computer and library lab. It is such a wonderful tool for keeping kids on task, safe, and where they are supposed to be. We are, additionally, finding it to be such a great teaching tool!
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