That's Not Fair!

Are your behavior management policies equal or equitable in camp?

“That’s not fair!” a camper says as a child is given the privilege and responsibility of being a counselors helper for the day. “That’s not fair!” a counselor says as one camper who struggles with misbehavior gets video game time while the other campers do not. “That’s not fair!”, a parent says when inquiring why one camper is getting chance after chance when the typical policy is three strikes and you’re out.

Equal or Equitable Policies?

The majority of camp policies I encounter are equality based.

Equality is each person being given the same opportunity, resources, expectation, or rule-set. Equity is recognizing differences in each person and giving each individual the tools and resources to achieve the same outcomes.

An equality based behavior policy base may look like a three strike rule bullying policy. In which strike one results in a parent conversation, strike two results in a suspension, and strike three results in an expulsion.

An equity based behavior policy may look like the implementation of individual success plans. In which camp staff work with parents to create a success plan to influence a specific camper's behavior.

Am I saying that a camp should not have strict boundaries and policies regarding bullying? What about acts of violence? Where should we stand on zero-tolerance policies? The most important part of our job as camp directors and staff is to create a safe environment for our campers so of course we should set strict boundaries regarding bullying, violence, discrimination, etc. However, what if you have a camper on the Autism spectrum who when overstimulated responds with acts of violence? What about a camper with cognitive delays who truly does not understand that their words are akin to bullying?

Your Campers are Diverse

The fact is, we are an incredibly diverse population with different abilities, motivations, and skill sets. A cabin of campers may include a child with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), a child with ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder), and a child confined to a wheelchair among several other neurotypical and non-disabled campers. Is it fair to expect the same behavior response from each of these individuals against a given stimuli? When we are looking at inclusivity and equity in our policies, should we only look at the differences in physical or cognitive ability?

Your campers also have differences in motivations. When attempting to redirect misbehavior, a one size fits all approach will not work for every camper. Some campers respond best to strict and authoritative leadership while others best respond to positivity and words of affirmation. For many campers the loss of a privledge ensures a behavior is not repeated while for others having a reward to work towards is a much more effective method.

The Bottom Line

“We don’t do fair here.” - That’s what I tell my staff and that’s what I tell parents at the start of the summer. Even though our field is buzzing with the keywords of diversity, equity, and inclusion, I find that camp policies are still lagging behind. I choose equity. Hard and fast “7 step discipline policies” do not give allowances to treat the camper like an individual. It is time we recognize and celebrate the differences in our campers and give each camper the tools and resources they need to succeed. That may mean that when two campers exhibit the same misbehavior, one has a privilege removed, while the other is given a special goal or privilege to work towards. And no, it isn't fair.

To dive deeper into this topic check out our professional development course “Mitigating Misbehavior”.

Mitigating Misbehavior

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