Wayne's world: It's school on Saturday
BY RACHEL YOUNG
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Misbehaviour now carries a far heavier penalty at Marlborough Boys' College, with the introduction of Saturday classes for students who fall foul of school rules.
The scheme to deter bad behaviour was instigated at the start of the term by new principal Wayne Hegarty. The idea has been adopted from Rangiora High School, where Mr Hegarty was deputy principal before landing the top job at the boys' college.
He said the move had proved so popular with parents that some even wanted to enrol their sons in the Saturday classes.
Students, however, did not like having three hours of their weekend taken away from them or having to walk around in school uniform on a Saturday.
"It's a message that there will be a consequence," he said.
"It's a consequence that has more impact, I would suggest, than a lunchtime detention."
Mr Hegarty said standing students down was often seen as "cool" in students' eyes, as troublesome students were not required to attend school, whereas the new punishment structure held real repercussions – the "punishment fits the crime".
For example, if a student was caught vandalising property, he would be asked to help clean up the school. If it was a case of truancy, he was ordered to do class work.
Mr Hegarty said staff had been willing to help run the Saturday classes. To date, the special classes have been held most weekends, with anywhere between two and 10 boys in attendance.
Mr Hegarty said that if a student was involved in sport or had to work on a Saturday, a solution would be found.
The scheme only worked with the approval of parents, he said.
"The support from parents so far has been great. I've even had some parents ringing me asking if their kids could go to Saturday school."
Parent Evelyn McLean said the tougher penalty was a great way of disciplining students.
"I back him. I want him to give it a shot," she said.
Board of trustees chairman Phil Robinson said feedback showed that the Saturday classes were working well in terms of keeping bad behaviour in check.
"It's about them learning a lesson that they can't cross a line without having some consequences."
PTA president Jen Insley said she supported anything that would keep the boys on track.
She said the Saturday classes showed the students that there would be consequences for their actions, which was an improvement on past years.
Marlborough College Old Boys' Association member Richard Harvey said Saturday school was an "absolutely brilliant" idea.
"Saturday is their [students'] day, so hopefully by doing this they will learn to pull their heads in."
Year 13 student Jamie Hawke said he knew of boys caught fighting who had to do physical exercise as punishment.
"It's not worth getting in a fight or bullying anyone with that kind of stuff happening."
Fellow student Fraser Anderson said students were more respectful and took more pride in themselves and the school since Mr Hegarty started. The students liked him, as he spent time wandering the school talking with them.
Both agreed that Saturday school was a good idea.
Mr Hegarty said the school was focusing on respect, as students and staff had identified it as a key value.
- The Marlborough Express
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Some students are punished more severely in the home than at the school, maybe the school deans should be looking at the background of why some students are constantly getting bought to attention of the school authorities. Saying that a student lacks disipline and obtaining a Saturday detention when his parents have been drinking to 3 am, there are drugs/violence in the home and no food in the cupboard indicates a lack of perception of the school. Nothing has changed the poor get ignored and persecuted. Yet doctors, lawyers, accountants sons again succeed.Well done MBC, maybe you should take a leaf out of Mr Kerrs book. Fair,understanding and rewarding honesty.. that results in respect. Not taking liberty.
Seriously? what a load of rubbish. Boys will always wag regardless of the punishment. Some will tag the toilets and go on to have a career in the cleaning sector. Some will backchat the teachers ang go on to be politicians. Some will keep their heads down and go on to become beauricrats. Some will smoke pot and play guitars behind the hall and go on to be musicians. Some will we be average students and become average men. Some will be a mix of the above and go on to do amazing things! Let boys be boys so that they grow up to be men that the next generation aspire to!
Got any better ideas t??
Fantastic idea Mr Heagarty... We are ex Blenheim folk, now living in Aussie.... Wish your idea could be implemented over here in Australia..
Fantastic...this should be implemented nationallly.
Nothing like making school the punishment. That's what will make students want to stay at school, forcing them to be there more. Marlborough Boys Prison
Great move! Another step in turning this school around. ' The Breakfast Club' revisited!
Well done Mr Heagarty for taking this step! Other schools would do well to take this on. Having teenage girls - I know this would make most kids think twice.
Superb! This is great, what a breath of fresh air. After witnessing 1st hand the extreme behaviour standards slipping over the past decade this is a great step in the right direction. Should be implemented throughout New Zealand. The biggest problem New Zealand has is lack of responsibilty and respect. Well done Mr Hegarty.
Ex MBC student.
Exactly, its only the students whose parents force them to go to school on a Saturday who this is going to affect, and by enlarge this is a small percentage of the students who are likely to have to attend detentions. I think forcing students to go to school on Saturday only makes them resent school even more than they already do, and the students whose parents don't force them to go will likely get in more trouble for not attending which only exacerbates the problem between the school and student further.
Again this approach looks for more ways to punish and at no ways to prevent.