The Demerit System... the Bane of Holiness

[JrChurch]

I shall not divulge the name of the school, but this week a friend lamented to me that his son received demerits,

"Because he admitted that he was 'dating' a girl in his class.  My son knows that 'dating' is against the rules, yet he decided to tell the truth when asked and he gets in trouble. They were not caught holding hands or even talking to each other, but, since some kid tells the teacher he is 'dating', he gets in trouble. The offense is 'Respecting the rights of others'."

This happens everywhere folks.  It is a part of life.

Did I mention that the kid is in 4th grade in a public elementary school?

 

[FSSL]

This happens everywhere folks.  It is a part of life.

Abuse of authority happens. How in the world is that "respecting the rights of others?"

• A kid told the truth about having a clay pigeon shotgun in his car... his school kicked him out and he served some jail time.
• I know a young man who told the truth about needing help because he was suicidal... they threw him in jail because they found a gun (properly registered) in his car.
  

There are plenty of these awful stories... they all violate Galatians and Colossians.
However, notice that they do not violate a secular demerit system. The goal of demerits is NOT restoration, just conformity to the whims of those who make rules and apply them capriciously.

 

[Just me]

Let's face it: Bible Colleges that use the demerit system do not know how to help our kids grow in holiness. You cannot argue against this point. Demerits are a shortcut to behavior modification and do ZERO to help kids grow in holiness. In fact, they do quite the opposite. They prevent holiness.

For decades, since the onset of the Bible College era, these institutions have established demerit systems to control the behavior of their students. These points are given (often capriciously) when you fail to live up to a code (stated or unstated).

You leave dust on your desk in the dorm room - 10 d's
You get to class 10 minutes late - 20 d's
You get caught holding your girlfriend's hand - 50 d's and a warning that the next infraction is a social.
150 d's means you get expelled (at least at my former institution)

Why have Bible Colleges, institutions established to raise up the next godly generation, relying on techniques more related to Pavlov's experiments than the Bible? Because "giving d's" is much easier and less messy than helping your fellow brother/sister along with wise biblical teaching. You can mark a slip of paper in 10 seconds and be done with those who have gone awry.

Here are some thoughts to help these institutions rethink their Pavlovian ways. Just get rid of your demerit system and start doing the following;

• Revamp your orientation courses. Who cares about a class on proper etiquette? Who needs a class on that subject? How about teaching your new students about the sufficiency of Scripture?
• Have a Bible conference on Colossians 3.
• Have deans that are committed to exemplifying Galatians 6 and working diligently through issues with those who are going wayward.
• GET RID of those tablets! Do not allow students to be bullied by legalist hall monitors who need to learn what the phrase "progressive sanctification" means.

Okay... this is a start... do you have further recommendations?

My biggest problem with the demerit system is not necessarily the fact that an institution chose to have rules because if you chose to go there you knew the rules and chose to follow them. The problem is the inconsistency of the way they are administered.

Where I went to school if the person that was in charge of the demerits or the particular staff giving you the demerits liked you or you were a staff kid you would either get off all together or get very few. However, if you were not liked the book would be thrown at you.

I can remember a student got caught with porn which required an immediate expulsion. Because he wasnt like he not only got expelled but also got black listed and no other student was allowed to talk to him or they too would be kicked out. However, a guy whose dad was an alumni and was liked by the staff was found with gay porn and he didn't even get campused let alone kicked out. If you are going to have rules and demerits it has to apply to everyone the same way period.

Bingo JustABigKid!  Although most, but not all, staff kids were treated with kid gloves.  Gladiator (from the older FFF) comes to mind!!