Own it!

I have been trying to teach my guys(I have 99% male students) that they need to own up to their crimes when they are obviously caught. I have overheard so many conversations among students discussing how unfair it was to get 5 days ISS just for skipping one class. I would interrupt and ask "Ok, exactly what happened, play-by-play?" The answer always bowled me over. An example answer from a student who had skipped one class was:" I told him(asst principal) that that "blanking" teacher was a liar! Then he got even madder and I told him to go to h**l!" This kid was actually dumbfounded to have 5 days ISS. I played out how the conversation should have gone, i.e. "Yes Mr. Plunkett I did skip that period. I was having a bad day and just could not stand the idea of going to that particular class that day. I don't know what I was thinking. I should have known I would get caught." Well, this year has gone very differently for my second year students when caught. Firstly, they are skipping/dipping/texting/whatever less than last year. Secondly, they are "owning it" when they do screw up. One of my favorite kids came to me last week(the one whom I spoke of directly in the example above) after having been caught skipping two classes to go to McDonald's. He was giddy that when he used my approach he only received 2 days ISS. He also said that Mr. Plunkett was actually a really nice guy after all. Now, I am in no way approving skipping or anything like it. I am trying to instill some form of responsibility and at the same time fostering a more friendly relationship between student and administrator. It is working and my kids are, therefore, in class more often to receive learning.