using scripture as discipline

[bobo]

Hi everyone.
I was just thinking about this once again.
The deal is this:
I teach in a Christian based school, where my kids do devotions every morning, we celebrate all the Christian holidays and we expect our children to behave according to the morals set out for us in the bible.

Anyway, we have been having mini problems with racism in the school. In the grade 9 class especially, one boy has been particularly mean and nasty to another girl in his class.
So the other day, his teacher decided to give him punishment for it. The punishment was to write out the verse Ephesians 4:29. "Dont use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them." (quoted from NLT), 50 times
During our school councel meeting the other day, he bought that incident up. Now i know that at that age, they moan about the smallest things, but i have been thinking about it. I mean, do you think that the punishment was suitable or not.
Please give me your opinions.

I would hate to turn a child away from God if all they remember about Christianity would be punishment. But then again, he did memorise the verse and everytime when i am in their class he quotes it back to me..

What do you think?

 

[SpiritLedEd]

Using Scripture As Discipline

Has that teacher, or anyone else, engaged that boy in conversation, built a relationship with him, and tried to investigate the causes of his attitude? What beliefs have been passed down to him by his family or the kids he hangs out with? What kind of life experiences has he had?

These kinds of things need to be checked out in order to have even a chance to effectively deal with this young man. Handing him a Bible verse writing assignment is a bandaid approach and will be of little or no value.

SLE

 

[abigya]

Has that teacher, or anyone else, engaged that boy in conversation, built a relationship with him, and tried to investigate the causes of his attitude? What beliefs have been passed down to him by his family or the kids he hangs out with? What kind of life experiences has he had?

These kinds of things need to be checked out in order to have even a chance to effectively deal with this young man. Handing him a Bible verse writing assignment is a bandaid approach and will be of little or no value.

SLE

I agree with Brother SLE, dealing with the root cause will bring much fruit, like to help this kid understand every one is fearfully and wonderfully created by God.

Ps 139:14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.






.

 

[bobo]

Thank you to the both of you.
A bit of information to answer your questions.
With this boy, all the teachers have given him the benefit of the doubt for quite some time. We have all spoken to him countless times.
The one big thing for him is, is that when he was about 12 or 13, his mother passed away of cancer. i have been told that this had a big blow for him. He does not come from a Christian home, but he does attend our Alpha Course at the school. I hope you have heard about it. Basically the course deals with the basic beliefs of the Christian faith and there are times where the kids have time to ask questions which they need answers.
With this big happening in his life, his father has turned to drink to satisfy and dull his pain. This boy now lives with his grandmother.
i feel he is very angry at the world.
he usually makes friends with who ever will befriend him, usually the kids looking to harm others in order to get a laugh out of life.
i hope this answers some questions.
he really is such a beautiful kid with a soft heart, but he has no ambitions to work towards.
My heart goes out to him, i have no problems with him. he is stunning to work with. he told me the other day he doesnt want to give me hassles.
thank you once again for your responses..