Kicking kids out of school doesn’t work!

Our school systems has failed our children by not keeping them safe at schools, not turning a conflict into a teachable moment, and by suspending students for days at a time.  What is going on?   We need our children to feel safe, respect their positive learning environment, help them correct their misbehavior, and teach them to develop strategies for self-discipline.  How does your school handle discipline? What is considered a minor infraction at your school site?  I am asking for schools to rethink the way schools discipline students.  Many schools are trying to find solutions to this question. A parent of Kent school in Washington asks “What are students supposed to do if students are attacked or bullied” The school board couldn’t answer this question.Here is what we are noticing:

  • Punitive discipline that removes kids from school leads to lower graduation rates.

  • Students who mouth off to teachers, or fight, or cut class are typically the least engaged in classwork

  • A study in Texas study suggested that 31 percent of suspended students repeat a grade; 10 percent ultimately drop out.

  • More than one-third of the 475 youths suspended for “defiance” last school year were black though African Americans comprise only 12 percent of the district’s student population. By contrast, white students written up for “defiance” were more often given a warning with no loss of class time (Kent School in Washington)

Marry

Marry

discipline

discipline

If you are tired of this then Do Something! Parent say SOMETHING and stand up for your children!Parent Mary Valmonte, with son David, played a key role in the changes made in Kent schools. All children deserve an education! The Zero-tolerance approach does not work.  Keep kids in school!  Take those police officers out of uniform change their role from security guards to hall mentors.  Change student roles, classroom dynamics, and support students in their many unique styles!  Something has to be done now! Here are some tips to start?

  • Know your students and turn a fight turns into a teachable moment on how to resolve conflict. Monitor behavior and be proactive

  • Develop social problem solving and decision making skills among students

  • Get parent support by maintaining a close communication with students’ parents

  • Provide academic instruction and activities that motivate learning, we know they’re happier and feel safer.

  • Create a school environments in which kids can succeed by providing scaffolds.

  • Use praise and rewards to maximize the risk of diminishing intrinsic motivation

Below are a couple of programs and methods that have been adopted: Yes it takes work, but these programs are out there to help teacher and administrators.

Take a look at this clip:Student Suspended:[embed]https://youtu.be/UsnlhGeuKlc[/embed] 

Intrinsic Motivation, News, Reform, Teacher Support, BlogCassandra Williamsfailed our schools, healthy environments and response to trauma in schools, Kicking kids out of school, pbis, restorative justice, safe and civil schools, trauma sensitive schools