the school the boys go to always inform  what going on with disciplinary  matters . Weather by phone or letter  depending on how bad it is  like homework it by letter but other things by phone to say please ring  then  .

                                        I like the idea as i know what going on  and that its just not one kid getting the blame all the time as both parents are there  to hear both side of the story.

      SO yes i think    Parents should be informed  straight away

Most schools have a 'Student Welfare Policy' which should cleaarly outline the 'Disciplinary Steps' for  a student who breaks the rules. These steps are usually applied according to the severity of the misbehaviour, thereby a parent may not be contacted for a minor infringement, like dropping papers,  playing out of bounds etc. However for a major infringement like physical assault on another, the parent might be immediately contacted, depending on the policy of the school.

Most schools are only too willing to give a copy of the Student Welfare Policy to parents on request. I  believe every caring parent should get a copy because it prepares you in the event of your child receiving disciplinary action. It saves embarrassment on parents part where they may come in with all guns blazing about the disciplinary action taken, without parental consent, when it is actually allowable for the school to do such action according to the school policy.

If there are areas of the Welfare Policy you do not agree with I am sure that the School Princiapl would be interested in discussing your concern.

In my experience of 28 years Primary Teaching Parents were usually contacted when the Teacher and Principal agreed that it was necessary according to the Welfare Policy. Discipline was very rarely delt out without it applying to the policy, although that will vary according to how well the school is monitoring its Welfare Policy.

i believe that parents do have the right to be informed immediately, concerning disciplinary action.. and if you want to be informed and they do not inform you i believe that there are actioins you can take to insure you do get inform immediately, i would not condone any disiplinary steps with out my consent when my children went to school  just a thought  misquadis

Talk to your childs teachers and priciples etc tell them that u would like to know if there is ever any concerns with your child i dont believe in waiting until the problem gets out of hand before trying to deal with it... If they are having problems or causing them then maybe u can work with the school to fix the problem before it gets out of control i have made my feelings known to my childrens school and told them that i dont believe that if there is a problem there that they should be the only ones to deal with it as they are my children and would love to work with them if there is a problem.. The principle told me this is the first time she has heard a parent say that  and has agreed to let me know if there is any problems at all

Your responsibiltys as a parent doesnt stop when they walk in the school gate and therefore should make it well known that u feel this way they will apreciate it as there are a lot of parents that feel if they have probs at school they should stay there .. They dont work with the school n see what they say.

Depends what you mean by 'disciplinary action'.  Children can be disciplined by detention or taking away of priveleges (which would not necessarily require that  you be immediately informed) or if a child is being suspended it is reasonable that you be informed rapidly in order that you know why and can make arrangements.  It isn't really a matter of 'rights' as if you child has offended so badly that they need to be removed for others wellbeing then the 'rights'  of others (to safety etc) may be regarded as paramount.

It is wise to try to keep an open mind about what has gone on. Although we dont want to hear it and it is horribly inconvenient (I speak from personal experience!) when a child is suspended it is never for a minor infraction. Your real issue is not whether your rights have been infringed but where you go from here to try and get help for your child.

I got a phone call to come and get my daughter from school after she had attacked another student.  That was just a wonderful (!!!) thing to hear and when I arrived I was informed that she was suspended for three days.  When we sat down and talked through the issues - which she had refused to discuss with the teacher prior to my arrrival - it was determined that my daughter (who is adopted from asia) had been subjected all day to her classmates one by one coming up and telling her the funniest joke - to them - about asians. By the time the afternoon had arrived and she had spent all morning being harrassed and trying to put on a stony face about it she finally lost it and punched the next kid to tell her the joke.  Her self esteem was in tatters and she felt totally rejected. I told the teacher in no uncertain terms that while my daughters behaviour was not acceptable neither was the racial taunting.  When the teacher spoke to the kids about the issue, none of them realised what they had done was received as racial abuse and they were required to apologise.  Oh, and yes my daughter did serve her suspension because two wrongs do not make a right and physical retaliation is not acceptable.

I told you that so you could perhaps see your way clear to talk to the teachers involved and try to determine if there are factors which are 'setting your child off'  which you can help address rather than both sides digging their heels in and being at odds.  My daughter has learned that you DO have to discuss issues and work through them and it isn't always easy and sometimes it is downright embarrasssing, but if you can get through it your child will learn  another way of dealings with life's harsh realities when things don't go our way.

I agree with both of the wonderful people below. Check your schools code of conduct and make sure that the school knows how you feel and what you want.

 Lexi xxx