Boundaries, Belonging, and Big Yellow School Buses
Tessa Dierks MCC 7-12 Principal Every autumn, as the farmers prepare for harvest, those bright yellow school buses return to our rural roads. A specific memory always returns to me. One so vivid that at times, I actually feel like that little 5 year old girl again. During the first two weeks of my kindergarten year our family dog was run over by the school bus. It was no fault of the driver, the dog had no sense of danger.
Coincidentally, that same week, we were taught the bus safety rules at school. We were taught how to behave when on the bus, how to stay behind the white line when waiting for the bus, and how to cross the road in front of a bus. My traumatic experience, paired with bus safety, taught me two fundamental lessons very early in life. First, rules, boundaries, and consistency exist for a reason - they are designed to keep us safe. Second, when difficulty or tragedy strikes, it is the support of a community and strong relationships that carry us through. My kindergarten teacher earned her pay that week as she consoled me through the grieving process.
Those ideas are at the core of how we approach school culture and discipline at Murray County Central High School.
When people hear the word “discipline”, they often think of rigid consequences, and strict rules. But a framework built only on enforcement misses the bigger picture. In education, relationships and culture aren’t an alternative to rules - they are the foundation that gives the rules meaning.
When our teachers, coaches, custodians, cafeteria and office staff take the time to know a student’s name, understand their story, and care about their well-being, the entire dynamic shifts from control to respect. When that trust and respect exists, correction becomes a conversation and a mistake becomes a chance to adjust, learn, and keep moving forward. Preventative discipline means building a school culture where students feel a sense of belonging so that they want to protect their community and the people in it. This is something MCC strives for every day.
This does not mean that there are no consequences for improper behavior. Of course there are consequences. But there are also opportunities through those mistakes and consequences to understand each other and build even better relationships with students and families.
As we move deeper into the school year, our goal at MCC is to keep boundaries clear and the relationships strong. If you follow us on our app or social media you will likely see students receiving Rebel Recognitions and Good News Calls. Both are ways to recognize the ways that our students share their gifts and talents to make MCC a great place to learn and grow. We are grateful for a community that partners with us in raising young people who understand that rules keep us safe, but relationships and a positive school culture are what help us thrive.
