UNIT 1: Overview
Behaviour Management - Classroom Contracts
All children have the “right to protection from corporal punishment and other cruel or degrading forms of punishment” (UN The Convention of the Rights of the Child, 2006).
At Umubano Academy, as a foundation upon which to build education for positive peace, all of the school policies actively promote non-violence. Instead of using corporal punishment, positive behaviour management strategies are used. With the right tools and strategies, teachers can create positive learning environments in the classroom, where learners know what is expected of them and what the consequences will be if they do not make the right choices.
As part of this course, we will be working with Head Teachers, Teacher Training College (TTC) Principals and TTC Deputy Principals in Charge of Studies to look at your school policies. In the school, we recommend that the Head Teacher includes all of the staff, collaborating together to review or create the school policies. Then, in the classroom, we recommend that teachers collaborate with all of their learners, to create the classroom rules and expectations together. Learners and teachers are all valued members of the school community and the team at Umubano Academy has found that if everyone can understand and agree on the classroom rules together, they are more likely to work.
Involving different voices (Head Teacher, Teacher, Learner and Parent) promotes personal responsibility which helps us to be active members of our school community. The Competence Based Curriculum refers to personal responsibility in its definition of Peace and Values Education. Personal responsibility is one of the key competencies for developing a peaceful society.