St. Peter Discipline Philosophy

St. John Bosco Preventive System

St. John Bosco’s educational philosophy as well as his approach to discipline was based on agape, that is, sacrificial love. Rather than “fear of punishment,” it was “fear of the Lord” that guided and shaped his schools. Each of his schools behaved and operated as a family, with the teachers serving more as “father-teacher” or “mother-teacher” rather than only a “teacher.” Supervision, like that of a parent, was of utmost importance, a constant expectation, and a demonstration of love. Ways of correction or discipline were always enveloped with love, patience, and understanding, with the goal always being to win souls for Christ. Correction was firm and just but forgiving and merciful. Correction was an opportunity for growth in virtue and holiness, not simply a price to be paid. According to St. John Bosco, when teachers and school leaders build meaningful relationships with the students, gain their trust and spend time not only teaching them but playing with them and getting to know them, then those teachers and school leaders are imitated and obeyed not out of constraint but out of a desire to please and be like them. Teachers and school leaders who love their students, produce students who love their teachers and school leaders in return. Virtue begets virtue. Holiness begets holiness.  

 
Virtue-Based Restorative Discipline (VBRD) Philosophy: 

The VBRD philosophy creates a positive, virtue-based climate for the child during his/her time at St. Peter Catholic School.  This positive, virtue-based climate, in turn leads to a diminishing of negative behavior and an increase in positive behavior.  The successful application of VBRD is made possible through the commitment of the staff, students and parents. VBRD is most effective when there is a partnership amongst these three groups.  This partnership can lead to growth in virtue in the home with our families and can restore relationships that have been harmed. When harm occurs, it is important to look at the harm caused by the misbehavior and make amends – offer forgiveness – as taught by Christ himself. Loving God and neighbor, especially the repairing and restoration of relationships, is part of living a virtuous life.  
                                                                                                                                          
Developing in the hearts of our students a desire to live out the basic virtues of kindness, compassion, forgiveness, patience, humility, forbearance, gentleness, thankfulness, love, peace, and unity helps our students grow as disciples of Christ.  This has a direct impact on choice of behavior.  The faithful application of VBRD leads to a systemic change in the school community.  VBRD calls all adults to reflect on their approach to discipline while emphasizing the importance of repairing relationships affected by harm. Consequences for misbehavior still apply, but the goal is to restore relationships and redirect students so that they may once again embrace virtuous behavior.

VBRD at St. Peter Catholic School has led to the development of “Virtue 360s” (small groups or circles).  Embedded in the Virtue 360 is opportunity for prayer, self-expression, relationship building, and relationship restoration.  Virtue 360s are held each Monday morning in homeroom before the start of school for our 4th – 7th grade students.  The entire student body (grades Key Cottage – 7th) forms Virtue 360s in their homerooms on select days throughout the year.  Our faculty and staff hold Virtue 360s when they gather for monthly faculty meetings.  Virtue 360s are also integrated into particular home assignments that aim at bringing the family together, building and restoring family relationships, and encouraging growth in virtue.