Pledges Build Commitment

Another way to be sure parents understand they are equal partners is to require students and parents to sign pledges—to do homework, to get up to come to school, to use appropriate language and dress at school—that signify their commitment to school.

Most seasoned principals would agree that in previous lives they were either supply sergeants or managers of turnip factories, charged with getting more blood out of each turnip than the previous management. And yet successful principals find a way to make it all work. Pledges can help. One of the best ways you can help students and parents and recruit volunteers is with schoolwide pledges. 

Figure 4.1 shows what we call the academic pledge”; Figure 4.2 shows the “profanity pledge.”

Each student, without exception, returns both pledges. If they don’t, I call the parents and insist. If they need to be hounded, I hound. The parent and student must both sign. If they refuse to sign, we “reason together,” a la President Lyndon Baines Johnson. To date we have a perfect score. When a student uses profanity, I take the student to the front of the classroom and stand there while the student apologizes to the class. We have 650 students. Offenses are so infrequent that I do this only once or twice a week.

When parents show up at school wearing T-shirts with words that are inappropriate, I tell them they cannot come on the campus until they change their shirts. If a student is frequently tardy, I go to the homes and wake up the parents and their children. In some cases, I have dressed the student. What’s good for the students is good for the parents, although to date I have never dressed a parent.

And you know what? They love it. In fact, the parents?I put straight are my biggest supporters. They’re the ones?I can really count on. The pledges become the downbeat, the signal flare, the 21-gun salute, that this school is a place where we are serious about learning. I promote that fact by being seen.

:
Figure 4.1?The Academic Pledge
EmErson school
1225 Emerson Street Emersonville, XX 00000
Dear Parents:
The purpose of this letter is to encourage you to join with your child in rededicating yourselves as a family to academic excellence and good attendance. If you’ll sit down with your child and discuss the importance of education, completing homework, attending school, and being punctual, your family will prosper from this commitment.
We insist that each family sign the following pledge, one for each Emerson school-age child in your family, and return it to school now. We’ll post the names of the children who return the pledges. They’ll be proud their family cares about them.
We expect you to do this because we know you value education and school attendance. Please return the lower portion of this letter to your child’s teacher.
Sincerely,
The Principal

Academic Pledge
The ______________________________________________
[family name goes here]
believe in academic excellence, being punctual, regular
attendance, and completing homework. We have dedicated ourselves as a family to do our best to help you educate our child, and our signature indicates we will honor our pledge.
Student’s Name _____________________________________
Grade ________ Room Number _______
Emerson School
1225 Emerson Street
Parent/Guardian’s Signature ___________________________
Emersonville, XX 00000
Student’s Signature __________________________________

Figure 4.2?The Profanity Pledge
Emerson school
1225 Emerson Street Emersonville, XX 00000

Dear Parents:
It seems strange to say this, but I can assure you profanity has become so common in this country that some people believe it’s okay to say anything that comes to mind.

School is a place to learn. School is a place to learn to use proper language. School is a place to develop lifelong friendships with fellow students and school employees and to be confident one will not have to hear profanity.

The first time a student uses profanity at school, he or she will be counseled and the parents called at home or at work. The student will be required to apologize to his or her classmates. Should the student use profanity again, we will repeat the steps above and send the student to Saturday school. With a third offense, we will repeat the steps and suspend the student. If that happens, you must meet with me at school to discuss your child’s behavior; and the offense becomes a part of the permanent record.

Emerson is a school where correct language is honored and incorrect language is not tolerated. You and your child must sign the lower portion of this letter and return it to school. We must have one for each student. There are no exceptions.
Sincerely,

The Principal

Profanity Pledge

______________________________________

[ student's family name goes here]

We understand the profanity isn't allowed at Emerson school and that we're responsible for our child's behavior.

Students name_______________________

Grade______ Room Number______

Parent/ Guardian signature_________________

Student Signature________________