A sacrificial lamb is someone who pays the price for someone else's misbehavior. I find the very concept abhorrent. The similar concept of 'making an example of' someone implies that a disproportionate penalty has been assessed against one person to deter others from similar misbehavior. This also is not acceptable. These two techniques are often used in our society because they are an easier fix than staying on top of the situation and doing the much harder work of bringing each individual into line. Who am I to select a person to bare the negative consequences of a major penalty as a deterrent for others? What if that destroys their belief in their ability to succeed? Will a future prospective employer deny them employment because of that mark on their record? We need to do the hard work of bringing all of our students into line. They need to understand that they will pay the penalty for their behavior and that if don't learn to behave responsibly they will not be able to stay employed. This is not easy but I think it is our duty as teachers to teach each person what it means to behave in a respectful and responsible manner. I always emphasize that, in the real world, to gain respect you must show respect.
