Introduction

The Discipline Module manages learner and staff discipline. Discipline policies can be established where various disciplinary actions fit their respective offense categories. These standards are then suggested when disciplinary action is taken.

Features

• Disciplinary Actions
• Offence Categories

The Discipline module consists of the following:

Disciplinary Actions

Offence Categories

Disciplining

Disciplinary Actions

Before the appropriate actions can be taken for misdemeanors committed by staff and learners, the actions have to first be set up. The Disciplinary Actions screen is used for this. The following is required:

• Name – The name of the action (e.g. Detention – 1 Hour).
• Desc – A description describing the action itself (if necessary).

Offence Categories

When a staff member or learner commits an offence, although the particulars may differ each time, certain types of offences have to be grouped together to fall under various offence categories. For example, how one educator physically assaults another may be regarded by the school to be immaterial. Whether the one educator punched the other once or five times is immaterial – the fact is that the assault took place. In both cases, the offence category remains Physical Assault. If the assault, however, is deemed extreme, then there might be another offence category called Grievous Physical Assault where another punishment would apply.

In another example Smoking may be an offence category that applies to learners. Again, whether the learner has smoked half a cigarette or a whole box of smokes is immaterial – the learner must get the same punishment that applies to the category. If, however, it does matter, then simply introduce another offence category and associate another punishment to it.

It is not a good idea, however, to introduce more than one type of offence category, because then others can argue under which category the offence really does fall. If you have two categories for physical assault, namely, Physical Assault (that carries a punishment of 1 months suspension – no pay) and Grievous Physical Assault (where the staff member is actually fired), the staff member’s lawyers can argue that actual grievous bodily harm did not actually occur.

So it’s best to simply have broad categories with each their relevant punishments. It is also not a good idea to deviate from the recommended punishment. Offence categories are a means to lay down the law – always applying the same punishment for the same type of crime. Associating beforehand what punishment fits what crime is a means of establishing policy concerning offences and their applicable punishments. Furthermore, it is a means of simply fitting the correct punishment to the crime so that favor or anger on the part of the person giving the punishment does not obstruct this process.

The following is needed:

• Name – The name of the offence category (e.g. Cutting Class)
• Desc – An apt description of this category (so that there is no confusion as to what it means)
• Apt Disciplinary Action – The punishment for the crime (if only demerits are incurred then don’t select anything here).
• Demerits – How many demerits are incurred.
  

Disciplining

When disciplining a staff member or learner, the following are required:

• The Offence
• The Action Taken

The Offence

• Date & time of the offence
• Category – the category that this offence falls under (e.g. Drinking)
• Details – the specifics of the offence committed (e.g. Drinking in the classroom)
• Reported By – Who reported the offence (e.g. Learner Terry Williams)

The Action Taken

• Actual Disciplinary Action Taken – Select the appropriate action that is to be taken. Click the Same as Guideline button if you choose the default action to be taken for the offence.
• Comments – Enter any pertinent comments. This might be how the punishment was executed, what happened during the punishment and what the outcome was.