April 19, 2012

Today I visited three schools, Isla Bonita Primary, Holy Cross Anglican Primary, and San Pedro High School.  I had the opportunity to interview the principals to learn about the schools discipline policies, procedures, and practices.  I also had the opportunity to observe two classes at Isla Bonita and Holy Cross schools.  Each school has a policy in place for addressing behaviors.  Isla Bonita Primary and Holy Cross Anglican Primary uses a demerit system and assigns consequences such as cleaning the classroom or playground, or the students must write lines (sentences) during their recess time period.  San Pedro has classroom rules and consequences posted in all classes.  Isla Bonita has implemented posted star charts in the classes to recognize students demonstrating positive behaviors.  Holy Cross has a teacher come to the school once a week to teach students character building social skills through a program called Be Kind Belize.  Each month the school votes for a class that is the kindest and they have an opportunity of receiving a $250 prize for the class.  This program is set up with other schools within Belize to teach and encourage positive behaviors.  San Pedro High School does not have any form of positive supports embedded within their schedule or curriculum.

                Isla Bonita Primary

            

Holy Cross Anglican Primary

 

          Holy Cross Primary is located on top of a waterway.  This is the surrounding area of the school.

During the afternoon I provided professional development for beginning teachers at San Pedro High School.  I provided them with quite a bit of information, strategies, and resources to help them with classroom management. It was very interesting to learn of the challenges that they face each day.  Many of the teachers expressed that many of the students don't care about being in school, refuse to comply with requests, leave the classrooms when they please, or just show up when they want to.  Not much different from some of the challenges we face in our schools in the United States.  The difficulty is that the new teachers are very young and lack the experience for addressing these concerns.  With continued professional development and support they will be able to make some changes and witness the success they desire.




     San Pedro High School