According to an article called, "Westwood High School Students In Arizona Forced To Hold Hands As Punishment For Fighting" in
The Huffington Post, a first year principal offered two students who fought with one another two distinct choices: they would either receive suspension which would be written in their permanent record or they would be forced to hold hands publicly as a punishment. They both chose the later and had to face the taunts directed to them by the students. Westwood High School students found the matter extremely hilarious, except for the two boys who hung their heads in shame throughout the whole process. They did not want one soul to see their faces during this public humiliation. This punishment lasted only one hour, but one of the two boys, Charles, ditched school the next day because of the unbearable teasing. Even though several parents were satisfied with this type of punishment, many others worry that forcing two guys to hold hands as a punishments portrays a negative message about homosexuals. Nevertheless, the district does not agree with the principal's decision, and state that they will address the matter with him immediately.
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ReplyDeleteThe school principal's decision is somewhat justifiable. The whole point of the punishment was for these two boys to realize their mistake and not repeat it again.he could have been a typical principal and suspended these students. This would have ruined the records of both the students and could have potentially jeopardized their chances of attending a good undergraduate institution. He proposed a different solution that substituted public humiliation rather than ruined record's. It may have portrayed a negative message about homosexuals but that does not seem to have been the intention of the principle. The students completely overreacted as if they actually believed the students wanted to sit in a middle of a judgmental high school holding hands with each other. They could have went with the flow and eventually it would have been a fun high school memory but since they clearly showed that they were effected by the situation, it gave the other students a motivation to take the joke to a different level.
ReplyDeleteAn approach never seen or used before is always pretty intriguing to put into use as a new form of punishment. In the case of Westwood High School, the two boys that got punished, also got publicly humiliated in a way that they will never forget in their lives. Because the punishment is so humiliating, since in today's society holding hands with the same gender is consider homosexuality by high schoolers especially, it automatically becomes more effective. This reduces the chances of these high schoolers to get into trouble again to avoid such a scenery once more in the future, and discourages other students from getting into trouble. Of course these students could have picked the option of suspension, but not many people would want to ruin their personal record with incidents like these. Therefore, the method this principal proposed is very interesting, hilarious, and most importantly effective, because it has the best chance at eliminating a negative behavior through public humiliation.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with the decision the principal offered to the boys. Although it is understandable that a number of other principals would have immediately suspended the two boys, the principal of Westwood High School decided to be "kind" enough to offer them a second option. However, it is not really considered a second option when a public humiliation of this sort could potentially ruin their lives throughout high school, and have them be the center of all jokes. High school is already an area where one incident can ruin a student's social life, and so the principal subconsciously made the decision to do that. This matter should have been discussed with the parent's of the students, so that they could decide the severity of the problem and reason with the principal to give a more sensible punishment. The principal is at fault here, and he in return, should also receive a punishment.
ReplyDeleteA punishment is a punishment, and when a rule or a law does not have one to back itself up, that rule has no strength. This process of holding hands would stop this from ever happening, and would stop any other fights to happen in the campus. This punishment is a great way actually to enforce a rule. Yes the children become humiliated, but they also learn from their mistakes, as in sitting in detention. Sitting in detention does not change anything for the person, as it is not as threatening to some kids who do not care about it, for they have nothing better to do.
ReplyDeleteThis form of punishment is extremely unique, but yet it worked on affecting the lives' of those two boys. Even though this is a rude step to take, since the high schoolers made fun of them and laughed, the two boys learned their lesson. If the principal was to diplomatically solve this issue, the boys were likely to repeat this mistake again. For example, if he gave them detention, they would curse at him to others, become a little angry, and then serve the detention anyways. Then, the chances of them engaging in an act that is against the rules is still high. The two boys were given a choice, and they knew what was coming if they made the choice of holding hands in the middle of the campus. However, if they are receiving punishment for fighting, the other high-schoolers who laughed at them deserve punishment also. However, looking at kids nowadays, all we see is spoiled and careless people, so I can imagine how much attitude they probably gave to the principal, making him take this step.
ReplyDeleteI believe that this punishment is completely great, there is nothing wrong with the punishment and the principle made the right decision. The two boys that fought may have been humiliated, but this is something that they will not forget, therefore they will not fight again. Holding hands in this case will mean peace or a truce and not what all the immature students thought meant homosexuality. The district and state becoming involved is ridiculously stupid, this is a small matter of discipline, not a shooting. I think they should get off their high horses and not get involved with something that has no significance.
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ReplyDeleteHonestly, this punishment is a great idea, creative too, but not for male high school students. This whole idea of positive punishment, where "presenting an unfavorable outcome or event following an undesirable behavior"(Kendra Cherry, About.com), is found to be an effective behavioral psychological conditioning, but usually the results are unbearably humiliating. These two boys obviously learned their lesson, but that does not mean they will never fight again, it just means that they will never fight within school grounds. Fighting is what men do, it asserts dominance, gets the testosterone flowing, and after this incident of holding hands with another male, I believe that they will be just as violent as ever. Unfortunately, if as a punishment you raise your hand at them, you go to jail; if you talk down to them with hostility, you will lose your job; and if you do not do anything about it, they will do it again. Obviously, this tactic of humiliation was the only solution.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, this punishment is probably one of the most effective. Receiving the same punishment will get old and expected after a while, therefore changing the punishment is a good idea. The two students seem so humiliated which is the most effective part of this punishment because it will stay with them forever. Holding hands with each other after fighting is a form of truce which and also it will be a lesson to all viewers. If the principal expelled the students they would go to another school and probably do the same, but his punishment will hold them back from repeating the same mistake.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the district in that the punishment was not appropriate and should be discussed. Having two boys hold hands in public and get humiliated is not the right punishment. The students got humiliated, were teased after the public incident, and did not want to go to schooherefore that type of punishment in my opinion does not teach a lesson it just makes the students not want to get humiliated and teased the next time they think about doing something wrong.
ReplyDeleteHolding hands, as a punishment, is a creative and brilliant idea. The two students that fought, will not forget their humiliation. The ignominious punishment teaches them a lesson. However, the teasing that resulted from the punishment, may be problematic for the boys. The teasing may escalate into bullying and the principal would be responsible for it. The punishment has pros and cons, like all situations in life, but the principal should not have put herself at risk of accusation. She should have called the parents and had a group conference with the parents and the boys. The boys will walk the halls of their school in shame and will not fight on school grounds again. Ultimately, The odd or bizarre punishment delivered its purpose and therefore, can be justified.
ReplyDeleteDo people run out of ideas for punishments? This was not even a punishment. It seems like the principal made this decision more for entertainment than to actually teach the boys a lesson? The two options were almost impossible to choose from and I could not understand how the boys had the courage to pick the second one. I respect the courage they had to do it but punishments like this should be unacceptable. This punishment hurt the boys in a mental way and the shame they have to put up with is just heartbreaking.
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