I taught 6 years in East Flatbush, Brooklyn during the late 80’s and NONE of my students were allowed out of their seats without permission. When they did so, they were not allowed to return to their seats (sent to the Dean’s Office) without permission.
It’s about tone; it’s about “rule of law” (that’s right!); it’s about who’s in charge. Period. It can be done. It is being done. It’s just not being done by the liberal teacher (not suggesting you) whose mindset is “Oh dear, what will they think of me if I request them to...”
Deep, deep down, high school kids know that rules/laws can have some pretty mean teeth. Some have been raised without first-hand experience with this. Others (many) have been groomed to see that there are far too many times where this is not the case—school being a place where this happens far too often. My experience has been when kids see the truth about rules/conduct/consequence many (not all, never all) will temper their tantrums. It all depends on what they see in front of the classroom.
Totally agree, on both counts.
A lot can change in 25 years, almost an entire generation.
From this schools web page:
We serve special needs teenagers who have serious emotional, psychological, social and behavioral problems, and whose needs have not been met within New York City Department of Education’s special education programs.
Sounds like a charming school to be in, either as a teacher or a student. These kids have already been kicked out of NY public school special ed.
The worst of the worst, but without older means of control.