Manic Monday: Office

My children have grown up loving their principal. The first time I heard about Mr Campbell was when my first grader came home telling me that he went to his office today. I couldn't imagine what he would have done wrong, but he assured me that everything was fine. He was invited down to read his report because it was "done so nicely." It was a mini-mini-mini research paper that the class did. He wrote about the komodo dragon and drew a 1st grade perfect picture.
Future trips to the office included random drawings for children to have a group hot chocolate with him in his office, reading their favorite part of their current book with their peer group, and a lucky few even got to have lunch with him.
Mr Campbell also visited the classrooms and talked to the teachers and kids in the halls. All the kids thought he was awesome.

I grew up dreading the Principal's office. All it took was a reminder from friends that if the "duty" caught you (the on duty teacher watching over recess), you'd be sent to the office. Only the worst kids went there.

Looking at the difference, I think Mr Campbell's way is better. Our peers behaved out of fear, while my children and their peers behave because they want to rise to his expectations.

Now, we are in a new school where the vice principal is the only one they really see and no one wants to see her. My kindergartner doesn't even know that she has a principal. I think they have some work to do.