KEEP SHHHHHHHING

[Carla Derrick <jxs001@MAIL.CONNECT.MORE.NET>]

So many of you appear to be having discipline problems I decided to give
you my "recipe".  I have been a high school library media specialist for 25
years and teach Administration of Libraries and Reference Services at a
university.  I have excellent discipline.  Here is my philosophy:

I feel the library media center is the best of two worlds.  It is the
center of curricular activity  and information access, and it is an oasis
of calm.  I am convinced my students want it that way.  Today I can leave
the media center for an hour, return, and find quiet students working or
reading.  Here's how:

1. Treat students with respect.  I treat them like adults (even if you have
to do it with gritted teeth!)

2. Start with orientation groups, telling them they  will appreciate having
a quiet place to read and work and should respect the rights of others to
have it.  I explain that some students are taking tests, some research,
some just want a quiet place to enjoy reading and writing.

3. I tell them I allow very quiet whispering about assignments,  but if I
can hear it, the talking is too loud and they must desist.

4. If they forget, I catch their eye and, without speaking, put my finger
to my lips as if to "SHHHH" and  smile.  I have already told them at
orientation one such warning will be all.
If they do not stop talking too loud, I just catch their eye again and
point to the door.  If they say something out loud in protest, I just do
the finger to the lips thing again and frown slightly and apologetically
point to the door.  They go.  There is no embarassing confrontation,  no
loud noise.  The 3 or 4 times I had a major confrontation 20 years ago, I
got the principal and had them removed.  They know I am fair, consistent,
and they don't want to leave.

5. I tell teachers to "prep" their students about whispering before coming
to the library, and to give group instructions about the assignment before
they arrive;   that they set the tone for their students by moving among
them and whispering quietly.  I occasionally have a "screamer" , but most
teachers love that atmosphere of quiet work.  I work very hard with a new
teacher to achieve this.

When you first put this plan of action to work it may take a year to
achieve the  results you want . The key is to be consistent, persistent,
and get the cooperation of the staff.  Our teachers, administrators and
students all like having our place of quiet in  this  busy, noisy school.

I know this is lengthy - but it works for me and other "budding library
media specialists  I teach.   I hope it helps.