Cheektowage Central Middle School can be a lot of fun.
Cheektowage
Central
Middle
School
can
be
a
lot
of
fun
.
It has game nights and student dances, after-school activities, and sports teams.
It
has
game
nights
and
student
dances
,
after-school
activities
,
and
sports
teams
.
However, students at the school must earn the right to join in the fun.
However
,
students
at
the
school
must
earn
the
right
to
join
in
the
fun
.
If they don't do their homework, participate in class, and behave at all times, they're banned from participating in after-school activities.
If
they
do
n't
do
their
homework
,
participate
in
class
,
and
behave
at
all
times
,
they
're
banned
from
participating
in
after-school
activities
.
Students and parents say the threat of being excluded appears to be working.
Students
and
parents
say
the
threat
of
being
excluded
appears
to
be
working
.
Kenny T. of Reno, Nev., says it taught him that actions have consequences: "I learned that I need to be balanced in both my work and athletics to be rewarded for working hard."
Kenny
T.
of
Reno
,
Nev.
,
says
it
taught
him
that
actions
have
consequences
:
``
I
learned
that
I
need
to
be
balanced
in
both
my
work
and
athletics
to
be
rewarded
for
working
hard
.
''
Parent Sondra LaMacchia told The New York Times that her 14-year-old daughter is learning responsibility at Cheektowaga Central.
Parent
Sondra
LaMacchia
told
The
New
York
Times
that
her
14-year-old
daughter
is
learning
responsibility
at
Cheektowaga
Central
.
The teen used to perform poorly in her studies, but then she was banned from a school dance.
The
teen
used
to
perform
poorly
in
her
studies
,
but
then
she
was
banned
from
a
school
dance
.
The message got through loud and clear.
The
message
got
through
loud
and
clear
.
"It's nobody's fault but hers," LaMacchia said.
``
It
's
nobody
's
fault
but
hers
,
''
LaMacchia
said
.
Although exclusion may help teach responsibility, some psychologists say it can also be threatening, especially for students who often cause, or may cause, trouble in school.
Although
exclusion
may
help
teach
responsibility
,
some
psychologists
say
it
can
also
be
threatening
,
especially
for
students
who
often
cause
,
or
may
cause
,
trouble
in
school
.
They might become more aggressive and antisocial, which is exactly what schools like Cheektowaga Central want to prevent.
They
might
become
more
aggressive
and
antisocial
,
which
is
exactly
what
schools
like
Cheektowaga
Central
want
to
prevent
.
Should schools exclude students from activities to get them to behave?
Should
schools
exclude
students
from
activities
to
get
them
to
behave
?
I believe teens need school activities and that inclusion can be the answer.
I
believe
teens
need
school
activities
and
that
inclusion
can
be
the
answer
.
For some troubled students, activities can be their motivation to stay in school.
For
some
troubled
students
,
activities
can
be
their
motivation
to
stay
in
school
.
"Activities such as sports may be the only thing keeping certain students in school," says Duace Wood, a teacher at Mohonasen High School in Rotterdam, N.Y. Getting involved in after-class activities keeps troublesome students in class.
``
Activities
such
as
sports
may
be
the
only
thing
keeping
certain
students
in
school
,
''
says
Duace
Wood
,
a
teacher
at
Mohonasen
High
School
in
Rotterdam
,
N.Y.
Getting
involved
in
after-class
activities
keeps
troublesome
students
in
class
.
Even if they don't do as well as their classmates, they are still learning.
Even
if
they
do
n't
do
as
well
as
their
classmates
,
they
are
still
learning
.
The more time they spend at school, the less time they have to even think about starting trouble.
The
more
time
they
spend
at
school
,
the
less
time
they
have
to
even
think
about
starting
trouble
.
Teams also provide support and role models, and they help build the confidence that students need to succeed.
Teams
also
provide
support
and
role
models
,
and
they
help
build
the
confidence
that
students
need
to
succeed
.
If students who don't behave are banned from activities, they might give up on school altogether.
If
students
who
do
n't
behave
are
banned
from
activities
,
they
might
give
up
on
school
altogether
.
Cheektowage Central Middle School can be a lot of fun. It has game nights and student dances, after-school activities, and sports teams. However, students at the school must earn the right to join in the fun. If they don't do their homework, participate in class, and behave at all times, they're banned from participating in after-school activities.  Students and parents say the threat of being excluded appears to be working. Kenny T. of Reno, Nev., says it taught him that actions have consequences: "I learned that I need to be balanced in both my work and athletics to be rewarded for working hard." Parent Sondra LaMacchia told The New York Times that her 14-year-old daughter is learning responsibility at Cheektowaga Central. The teen used to perform poorly in her studies, but then she was banned from a school dance. The message got through loud and clear. "It's nobody's fault but hers," LaMacchia said.  Although exclusion may help teach responsibility, some psychologists say it can also be threatening, especially for students who often cause, or may cause, trouble in school. They might become more aggressive and antisocial, which is exactly what schools like Cheektowaga Central want to prevent.  Should schools exclude students from activities to get them to behave? I believe teens need school activities and that inclusion can be the answer. For some troubled students, activities can be their motivation to stay in school. "Activities such as sports may be the only thing keeping certain students in school," says Duace Wood, a teacher at Mohonasen High School in Rotterdam, N.Y. Getting involved in after-class activities keeps troublesome students in class. Even if they don't do as well as their classmates, they are still learning. The more time they spend at school, the less time they have to even think about starting trouble. Teams also provide support and role models, and they help build the confidence that students need to succeed. If students who don't behave are banned from activities, they might give up on school altogether.