School Counseling Role with Student Discipline

Ohhh, another D-Word! Let’s talk about DISCIPLINE! School counselors have a unique role they play when it comes to student discipline. Let’s dive into what that can look like and how your special role can help both sides! First of all, let’s define discipline . The Merriam Webster Dictionary states that discipline is “to punish or penalize for the sake of enforcing obedience and perfecting moral character .”

What Can We Do?

It can be exceedingly difficult when school counselors get caught in the disciplinarian role. Without realizing it, we can be side-swiped and suddenly faced with a dilemma of picking sides. BUT we don’t have to! Some situations obviously take discipline. But, we can take a step back and try to evaluate the whole situation. There’s a reason why school counselors are not placed in the disciplinarian role.

According to the 2019 ASCA position paper on discipline, “School counselors should be, by policy, designated as neutral and resourceful consultants, mediators and student advocates. It is not the school counselor’s role to serve as an enforcement agent for the school but rather be a significant contributor to the development of the prevention and intervention programs through which problem behaviors are managed and positive behaviors are nurtured.”

Be a Resource for Helping Students with Behaviors

As school counselors we are good at promoting and working towards change. What better way to help, than working with the student to promote positive behavioral changes? Start seeing the student one on one or if appropriate, see them in a small group setting.  If placing the student in a small group, make sure all students can work on targeted behaviors, instead of general behavior rules.

Teachers can also be enlisted for help on this one! Who sees the student every single day? Their teacher! Yes, they have a lot on their plate already! However, educating teachers on what they can do within their classrooms to minimize disruptive behavior will be a huge step in the right direction. Try getting some time in a faculty meeting or on a professional development day. Then you can and educate teachers on setting up a mental health check-in board, calm-down corners, teach about escalating/de-escalating behaviors, etc.

If you send out newsletters to staff, maybe have a mini-series on promoting positive behaviors in the classroom. Take different strategies and teach them how they can easily implement them within their classroom to help students. Maybe mention a case study scenario within the section talking about how the teacher helped manage discipline. Of course, do not list any names or real-life, identifiable info!

Implement Interventions

Another thing school counselors do is educate students on positive behavior traits and showing good character. Don’t let the focus stay on changing individual students’ behavior but try to think school-wide about this one too. You want them to be productive, respectful members of the community. So, lead some school-wide initiatives that reach all students. Try to create a culture where they start intrinsically wanting to do good.

Some examples of this are school-wide kindness initiatives, service projects, teacher-led interest groups, giving students more responsibility (a school job), etc.

These things have shown a lot of promise throughout the country. Students are developing a culture of community, at school, with their peers. They start to get excited about the initiative and look forward to doing their extra responsibilities. Magic starts to happen and their energy shifts from negative behaviors to more positive behaviors. This happens for several reasons, not just because you started an initiative. Instead, because you are investing in them and they become invested in the work. Students start seeing themselves as being valued and needed.

Repair and Restore Relationships

This brings me to my next topic, relationships! In my opinion, this is the number one, hands-down, biggest thing that helps change behavior. Students need to know you are there for them. While, at the same time, need to know school is a safe place of structure that has expected behaviors.

So, building a relationship is so important because it allows everything else you want to teach them fall into place. They will not learn much from you if they do not feel a connection with you. Students deserve to feel safe, loved, respected and connected. Then, most times, they will go above and beyond what you are expecting of them.

A couple ways to help teachers cultivate this kind of connection is helping them understand Restorative Circles and in a less formal manner, Morning Meetings. Starting the day by getting connected, increases positive behaviors and student’s willingness to participate.

At first, students are learning to correct their behavior. Try to help staff understand they are still learning and applying what they have learned. Focus on the positive behavior changes they are doing in the here and now. Try to not compare it to the end result yet of what your expectations are. Think of how far they have come.

If needed, serve as a mediator between the two parties. If a teacher and a student are having trouble connecting and the student often displays negative behaviors towards that teacher. Act as a mediator to get down to the root of the problem. Sometimes, it can be eye opening on both sides to finally understand where the other person is coming from.    

 

 

“The School Counselor and Discipline.” www.schoolcounselor.org, American School Counseling Association, 2019, www.schoolcounselor.org/asca/media/asca/PositionStatements/PS_Discipline.pdf.

“Discipline.” Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, 2020, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/discipline.