The word “discipline” is one of those words that is multi-layered. An athlete who trains daily or a student who studies nightly is said to have great discipline. In school the word frequently has a pejorative context. In bigger schools there are deans of discipline. These are the people who admonish students who commit infractions ranging from chewing gum to fighting.

The root of the word, like many of our English words comes from the Latin. Discipulus means student. In Scripture, of course Jesus gathers his disciples.

Here at Our Lady of Peace, we have no dean of discipline. We have me, and sometimes Mrs. De Leonardis. This part of my job is, if you are old enough to remember, like the old Maytag Repair Man commercials. Some days all is peace and harmony. Other days, not so much. Having been both a bartender and a principal I fully subscribe to the notion that the full moon can negatively affect behavior. So does sugar. Although thankfully not a problem at OLP but a frequent problem at drinking establishments, is liquor.

We are blessed to have good students at Our Lady of Peace. But when you gather 238 students and 30 adults together on a daily basis for 175 days there are bound to be conflicts; people making poor choices. People bristling under rules and regulations set for the smooth operation of the school. I’m talking about the teachers! Seriously, to paraphrase Our Lord, whenever two or more are gathered there will be issues.

Sixty-five years ago, as a first grader at Immaculate Heart of Mary School in Baltimore Maryland I was upset that the “Night before Christmas” film strip broke before Santa got to come down the chimney. I said a bad word. Out loud. I was disciplined by our principal, Sister Mary Ella, who had me drink a thimble of liquid soap. Oh well, said my parents, that’s what you get. My principal was not a monster, and my parents were loving people. It was a different age.

Although we have Tiger Tribulations (demerits) in grades 4-8 and at times we need to suspend students for graver infractions, our discipline policy is driven by communication between the school and parents. In my many years doing this job I can predict with certainty that 90% of the time we will all agree with what is right and what is wrong. Where conflict arises is if the student or parents do not feel that they are guilty There is also disagreement from time to time about the consequence. But these are rare.

I have always subscribed to the following guideposts in my role as chief disciplinarian of Our Lady of Peace. First and foremost, I strive to separate the student from his or her behavior. Students make mistakes. That doesn’t make them bad people.

I don’t judge parenting by their children’s actions. We’re all in this together as we try to get our students first to adulthood and then onto salvation. I don’t know where that bad word came from in first grade, but I can’t blame my parents.

I do try to couch all discipline decisions on the fact that I am working in a Catholic school rooted in our Church’s teaching and the Gospel message. And while I don’t love our students with the same passion and intensity that parents do, I do see every student as a child of God, capable of growing.

I believe that for most discipline issues my job is like a referee. I try to be quick, and I try to be consistent. Sometimes, more serious issues call for more investigation. Sometimes parents throw out the review flag. But I don’t have the luxury of a team in a booth reviewing the action from five different angles. Ultimately, I have to make the final call and continue on with the game.

Forty days into the school year, discipline issues begin cropping up with more frequency. That is the normal cycle of a school year. We are blessed that we have great kids, great parents, and great staff. Most discipline problems are small and, with all the adults working together, are solvable. In the end we are all Christ’s disciples, doing the best we can through Him and with Him.

 Jim Silcott