Fundamental would be:
A) Recognition of different age groups. Infants, Juniors & Seniors is not enough-did you know that it isn’t until age 12 that most kids understand kerb drill, and once kids understand something, there’s a far better chance they’ll do it.
B) Sorry, Jenny, but recognition that boys & girls ARE different and at different stages of intellectual and social development throughout, so punishment must be appropriate to that.
C) A clear line drawn in the sand between punishment and reform. These two may often merge of course, but even if they do or don’t, punishment must seek to avoid a repeat of behaviours, and very much preferably by showing the errant child there is a much better alternative to this.
D) Recognition that punishment of any sort remains private and is NOT shared with other pupils.
E) Recognition that 6th-formers should be exempted from this entirely. Once they pass the age of 16, they must be allowed to be adults-if that means they automatically become part of the punishment Establishment, so be it-freedom may mean more responsibility, it usually does.
F) Reminding ourselves constantly do we need to be punishing at all in this instance?
G) Engaging the parents in the process-why should we automatically assume they even know what Johnny or Mary are up to or that they wouldn’t care if we told them?