Groups Ask Districts to Stop Using Out-of-School Suspensions
by thenotebook on Aug 23 2012 Posted in Latest news
The Notebook has a content-sharing agreement with Education Week, where this piece originally appeared. Last week, the School Reform Commission revised the District's Student Code of Conduct to prohibit the use of out-of-school suspension for several low-level offenses. Randi Weingarten of the American Federation of Teachers supports the initiative.
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Several national groups are asking school districts to stop suspending students out of school and replace this form of discipline with what they consider to be "more constructive" approaches that benefit students, teachers, and communities.
The New York-based Dignity in Schools Campaign launched its call for a moratorium on out-of-school suspension at a gathering in Los Angeles on Tuesday, joined by more than 50 other groups.
They cited a growing body of research and data that shows the disproportionate use of suspension, in which black and Latino students and students with disabilities are more likely to be suspended and more likely to be punished harshly compared to other students for the same infractions. The research also shows the connection between school punishment and students entering the juvenile justice system. The groups said students who need to spend the most time in class are losing it at an alarming rate.
"At a time when we should be expanding learning opportunities for all young people, we are cutting classroom time for those who need it most," said Jermaine Banks, a student organizer with Power U Center for Social Change in Miami, in a statement. "The harsh discipline policies now in place around the country do not make schools safer nor improve academic achievement, but instead feed the school-to-prison pipeline."
Some researchers argue that discipline data is incorrectly used as a measure of school safety and doesn't actually contribute to the security of a school campus.
The groups have created a website, stopsuspensions.org, which asks district leaders to sign a pledge for a year not to suspend students out of school.
At the same time, Dignity in Schools launched a "Model Code on Education and Dignity" that they hope schools will adopt as an alternative to zero-tolerance discipline policies that rely heavily on out-of-school suspensions and expulsions to address student behavior.
"If we know there are alternatives out there, ... we would be foolish to not try them," said Tina Dove, the director of programs for the National Opportunity to Learn Campaign, which is endorsing the moratorium. "Ultimately the goal should be... keeping kids in the school house and not in the jailhouse. It's just that simple."
She pointed to a case this month in which the federal Department of Justice found that the Meridian school district in Mississippi had contributed to the "school-to-prison pipeline" because the city police agency arrests all students referred to it by the district. "The children arrested by [the Meridian Police Department] are then sent to the county juvenile justice system, where existing due process protections are illusory and inadequate. The Youth Court places children on probation, and the terms of the probation set by the Youth Court and [the Mississippi Division of Youth Services] require children on probation to serve any suspensions from school incarcerated in the juvenile detention center," the DOJ wrote in a letter to the agencies.
"No one could dare look me in the face and say 'That's acceptable,'" said Dove, a former high school teacher. "It truly says we have gone off the edge. It's an indicator of how far gone this is in some places."
At a recent conference hosted by the Office of Safe and Healthy Students, Lafayette Parish, La., Superintendent Patrick Cooper said that his district has eliminated essentially all out-of-school suspensions and expulsions in his 30,500-student district.
"We're not going to put you out there," Cooper said. "Everything the research is saying is about connections with people."
In a statement today, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten said her organization supports the initiative and will establish a leadership committee to lead the union's response.
"Many of our affiliates are already engaged in this work," she said. To support their efforts, the AFT will establish a leadership committee to lead the union's response, survey affiliates to gain a greater understanding of their school and community needs to target support, and collaborate with Solutions Not Suspensions and other stakeholders on policy decisions regarding discipline, among other things.
Comments (15)
Submitted by J (not verified) on Thu, 08/23/2012 - 19:33.
Another newfangled initiative. We'll see how it goes. Good luck to all of you in tough schools.Now they're saying that discipline leads to jail, so lets not be too severe. The kids have now taken ownership of the schools, but not learning.
Submitted by J (not verified) on Thu, 08/23/2012 - 19:40.
Now the students have ownership of the schools, but not learning. We've given up. We all know that research result are affected by who sponsors it. Black and Latino kids are suspended more often because they are more hard-headed as a result of their environment. They need structure, and if they don't get it in school, then there is a pipeline to jail. This new policy should be case-by-case depending on the student's record.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 08/23/2012 - 20:17.
I mean they're right. Out of school suspensions DON"T solve the problem for the student. I think we can all agree with that.
The problem is keeping them in school doesn't solve it either. That same student is probably disrupting class and often threatening violence on fellow students and teachers. Maybe it makes me a bad teacher to say I'd rather them out of school than in it but if the problem has gotten to the point of out of school suspension then the in-school efforts we've taken clearly haven't worked.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 08/23/2012 - 20:54.
Bottom line is simply that we are educators and these are public schools for the purpose of educating students. We are not social workers, psychiatrists, rehabilitation centers or "holding cells." There are organizations, professionals and institutions in the public sector to handle those issues.
Public schools are here to educate, no matter how much we sympathize with the students and/or understand that there are legitimate issues outside schools in the neighborhood and/or family, we cannot keep neglecting the kids who show up everyday and want to learn, but are held hostage by the very few students who constantly disrupt, bully, assault and disrespect them, the teachers and support staff.
Students go through a multiple of steps, prior to being given out of school supensions, but once those measures do not work or the student takes that "next step", we must remove those students, if even for a couple of days, to allow the majority of kids to feel safe and learn. Public schools are in the condition they are in today, for the simple reason that we allow the minority of the students to hold the majority of the students and staff hostage with their constantly disruptive, disrespectful and threatening behaviors.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 08/30/2012 - 10:46.
Absolutely on target. I suspect that those positing idealized solutions would not last an entire period in a classroom with those students qualifying for out-of-school suspensions.
Even the most effective teacher overall can not force a student to learn, or even behave. Nor can school administrators enroll a recalcitrant parent in supporting their student.
While repeated in-school suspensions trigger a call for parental involvement, as does out-of-school reinstatement, parents routinely refuse to respond.
This ignores disciplinary stonewalling by principals, scared of downtown backlash. From personal experience, no disciplinary action was taken against a student who repeatedly cursed and shoved a counselor, and even shined a laser pointer in her eyes. When called by the counselor, the parent threatened to obtain a protection-from-abuse order. Moreover, the principal made clear that any action from police or the courts, or union involvement, would result in a negative evaluation.
I suspect this is routine.
Submitted by G (not verified) on Thu, 08/23/2012 - 20:42.
Sure- It is true that out of school suspensions rarely help the suspended student. Let's be honest-an out of school suspension DOES help the rest of the kids who are trying to learn. It also might possibly wake up the parents (at least of younger students) if it inconveniences them. Again-disruptive students have more rights than well-behaved students. The statistics show that more students of color are suspended. If anyone did a survey on which GOOD kids have their education ruined by disruptive students, it would also show that students of color are usually also the ones to suffer a loss of instruction CAUSED by the presence of disruptive students. Catholic schools don't have more dynamic teachers or a better curriculum, or even smaller class size-they just have the ability to remove disruptive students-thus allowing everyone else to learn. Removal of disruptive students to a different setting would be the surest and most cost -effective way to raise the educational achievement of most students, especially those (90%) who are trying to learn.
Submitted by Annonymous (not verified) on Fri, 08/24/2012 - 07:30.
The Nutter / Good School Phila. mantra of creating more "high performing seats" does not recognize that schools with more "high performing seats" select their students - whether charter, parochial or magnet. So, yes, you can shift students who are accepted to these schools but you still will have students who do not "fit" with their programs. The concentration of students with learning needs, behavioral problems, etc. will be further concentrated into the few neighborhood high schools that are left. Those schools will follow the ASPIRA and Mastery model of warehousing non-compliant students in a separate area of the school. This will not be recorded as "suspensions" but is it equitable? Yes, disruptive students need to be addressed but, as others wrote, the social services required are not provided to public schools. Students who may not be disruptive but have multiple disabilities are also forced into neighborhood schools (Remember Mastery would only continue to have students with multiple disabilities if the SDP paid for it - so they won't assume the financial responsibility.)
Submitted by MBA to M'ed Mom (not verified) on Sun, 08/26/2012 - 17:56.
The Catholic school that I visited, did not have behavior problems because the school treated the parents, students, and teacher with respect. They did not seem to have fake suspensions or scream a lot at the students.
Punitive measures are not effective. Treating your students, teachers and parents with respect, getting rid of the abusive teachers and principals, having the same expectations that you would have for higher ses families, and stop letting some staff violate or abuse the rules in ways that harm students.
I am still disgusted that my child's school nurse would not tell me what the rules about parents and teacher's smoking on elementary school grounds where. So parents and teachers continued to smoke right in front of the school door where small young lungs had to walk through in the morning.
I got the school to follow the actual rules (50 ft off school property) but not one single teacher, principal or nurse helped me as a mom or my small child. There was only 2 teachers/staff who smoked in that school but no one stopped them or helped me stop them. These teachers/staff didn't even hide their smoking from me as a parent in the morning. I know I harp on the same issues but in 3 years with a kid in the district, I can't believe how many horror stories I have.
Please clean your own house. You want the students to respect you, when you don't even act like you respect them. Out the staff who harm the children, help the parents navigate the PSD, you would be surprised at how different things might be for you.
Picking which students you will or won't teach is not American. This is a public educational system paid for the public tax dollars. Every child in America is entitled to a decent public education. You don't get to pick which kids you want in school. Parents are your resource and can support you if you would only ask us to. Some of us are begging you to.
Submitted by ANON 452 (not verified) on Thu, 08/30/2012 - 12:59.
While I do not believe that zero tolerance has worked, and believe that in-school discipline and counseling would be best, let me ask parents posting on here what they would do in the following situation: BE HONEST! If this happened to your child what would you want done?
Your middle school-aged daughter is attacked in the bathroom by another middle school girl. Several other girls film the attack on their cell phones. (this happened during lunch period). The fight was broken up and no one was seriously hurt. HOWEVER, the instigator posted the film on Facebook and used the video to threaten the other girl repeatedly. So.....what would you want done if your daughter was being harassed?? BE honest. Do you want the perpetrator away from your daughter? Or do you want to give her endless chances to do this again? Factor in that the parent of the instigator WILL NOT consent to any programs or counseling for her repeat offender daughter. To whom do we have the most responsibility? You are right that out-of-school suspensions do not help the kid who is suspended, BUT they sure do help the other 32 kids in the class. Don't THOSE kids have a right to an education in a safe environment?? WHY are the rights of repeat troublemakers (for whatever reason, and some do have reason) MORE important than the rights of the other kids (many of whom are just as poor, or disadvantaged, or neglected as the constant trouble makers)?
If we try to monitor the bathrooms by only letting kids use them one at a time or at certain times of day, we are called mean and controlling. We do not have an extra staff member to post next to the bathroom or staff an in-school discipline/time-out room. We would love it if we did. Believe me, if this happened in a Catholic school (and most charters), the fighter would be kicked out that day! I have seen it happen. SO, we would all love some WORKABLE, AFFORDABLE ways to respond to these situations. Any suggestions???
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 08/30/2012 - 13:13.
DEAD ON! Why must continue to hold the majority of the kids who show up every day and want an education HOSTAGE to the small minority of kids who just ant to disrupt and disrespect. . .and their parents that encourage and tolerate those behaviors?
Submitted by Rob (not verified) on Fri, 08/24/2012 - 11:20.
I hate to say it, but I don't think the people go come up with these new initiatives know what goes on in our schools. Obviously Blacks and Latinos have higher discipline numbers but look at the demographics of the schools! We have 10 white kids in my HS. Also, some of these kids are already criminals who happen to come to school. The only real way to stop this is more parental involvement. Parents should have to be responsible for their kid's behavior until they turn 18. There should be contracts with high expectations. If a kid is truent, parents should have to pay for the services wasted. We could stop so many problems of there was a 2-3 person crew in charge of parental involvement. As a matter of fact, that'll be my Philadelphia School Partnership grant proposal
Submitted by MBA to M'ed Mom (not verified) on Sun, 08/26/2012 - 15:33.
Until you can talk about stopping advisors such as the one who walked my student out of school and told the police officer to not let her back into school until she brought her mom (and my student is a great, well behaved kid with an IEP who needs help learning and and becoming confident) to school with those FAKE suspensions that are counted as unexcused abscences. I have ZERO trust that the PSD is fair in it's enforcement of suspensions.
Until you clean up your own house and stop the abuse and corruption of your own policies and practices, do not expect support from parents to trust that you suspend students appropriately and ethically. If you can watch an advisor or principal abuse the very system of suspending a student and have the nerve to still want parents to support that system, you need to rethink your comments.
You speak out and help us parents make it a fair system, we will support you 100% but if you allow the few bad apples to continue to abuse the students education and say nothing to the parents about it and just stand back and watch it happen, you really should be ashamed about complaining about the program being changed. You did nothing to prevent the abuses in the existing one.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 08/26/2012 - 22:10.
That advisor did not walk your student out of school to a police officer for no reason.
Submitted by MBA to M'Ed mom (not verified) on Mon, 08/27/2012 - 21:01.
You missed the point. If you want me to believe the 'reason' was a valid one, the teacher should have created paper work for a real suspension. Otherwise, I can only surmise what the real reason was. And having sat in the class and observed this advisor, she's a bully who likes picking on certain types of kids. She also refused to come down and meet with the mom, the 3 different times she 'fake suspended' her daughter.
If the advisor had a good reason to suspend the student, why didn't she do it? No other teacher that the student had was aware the student was suspended and allowed the student in their class. They had no problems with the student.
My point is; if you want parents to trust your discipline practices, you can't be engaging overtly or tacitly with corrupted or abusive practices such as fake suspensions. I am surprised the district hasn't been sued over the practice as it is abusive and harmful (denying them due process and denying them valuable instruction time for punishment with no accountability from the lone advisor) for it.
When you corrupt a process, you have no right to complain when the victims of it, change the abusive process.
Submitted by MBA to M'ed Mom (not verified) on Sun, 08/26/2012 - 15:56.
I don't need a contract to be involved with my child, in fact I think it's insulting for you to even suggest that. If I am not involved enough for you, perhaps you should be calling CPS for neglect. And that will get the appropriate social services involved and the resources needed to help my child. Your contract is just paper unless you have some sort of punishment included for not adhering to its conditions and we already have those measures established in our child abuse laws.
Do some more research before you write up a grant. Unfortunately I have found educators in Philadelphia are woefully ignorant on how to engage parents. Most just assume we don't care, are young, value sports more than education, and are bad parents in general, where the reality is so so so different than that. We care a lot about our kids' education! But we don't trust you in this district because it's so clear how little you respect us and our kids.
BTW, the higher discipline is as a % of the population in comparison to other populations. For example if black students make up 50% of the population of students but 99% of the students suspended are also black...that's a problem.
And that is a simple example of what is happening here in the public school and why the kids themselves like YUC are asking for it to be changed. The kids aren't running the school....if they were, would a few teachers be able to scream in their faces, or punish them by fake suspending them, or giving them fake grades? Would a few teachers be able to punish kids by denying the their lunch? Would one teacher be allowed to year after year have students only run, skip or hop in gym year after year and the only activity is jump rope or play dodge ball?
The few bad principals, lunch staff and teachers are running the show for all the MANY GREAT TEACHERS, AIDES, & PRINCIPALS in the district who are losing hope and really care about the students and parents and watch their great efforts get sullied by those few bad apples who get away with not teaching, abusing the kids, and ruining your reputations.
Until you clean house, don't expect support from those of us who care about education. And you really should be ashamed of complaining when you do nothing but keep silent. You are actually supporting those who harm the PSD.
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