Alternatives to Suspensions and Expulsions

Alternatives to Suspensions and Expulsions

Photo Credit to U.S.V.I Dept. of Education Image Gallery

Yesterday I read an article in The St. Thomas Source that immediately prompted me to write this blog post. I’ll first start by stating that the fact the Virgin Islands Department of Education officials can publicly state that our territory doesn’t have a problem with regards to serving troublesome student without pushing them out of classrooms/ schools, or at least in more recent times, is a drastic improvement. Don’t just take my word, the very same article that prompted this blog post cities the territories statistics in these concerns, and unfortunately they are not very far from what I expected; maybe others within our community had different expectations (whether higher or lower), but not me. Why? Why I am not surprised?  Because I have noticed the many strides that the Department of Education and other government entities, among other private groups, programs, and affiliates, have made to secure a better future for the youths in our territory; regardless of demographic. So what is the concern you may wonder; the concern is the simple infractions that are causing students to be keep away from the classroom where they belong, and in some cases sending them to the last place they need be, jail/prison

As a former student under the Virgin Islands Department of Education I must state that many of the infractions that usually send students to the principal’s office should send them to the school counselor. As outlined in the source feature ‘Undercurrents; Educators Try to Curtail Suspensions’, there are different levels of infractions (levels1-4, 4 being more serious offenses), all of which usually lands students in the main office to a principal. Is there no other way? Aren’t there better ways to teach discipline, humility, and respect other than excluding children from school? Even for more serious offenses, like engaging in a fist fight ( a usual occurrence in middle/ high schools) instead of suspending students , according to how much physical damage they’ve inflicted on each other, wouldn’t they benefit more from anger management classes for a few weeks along with community service (counseling early learners, maybe). This model would also do well for students who are habitually disruptive (since early learners can be somewhat disruptive to those without training) to teach them the same lesson. For every in school suspension given for obscene language students could instead be required to write an essay on a subject of literary importance/nature with the hopes of them learning the power of words among other things.

I personally believe in the power of community service; if more students were/had been exposed to community service then we would have a community of caring individual adults who would be willing to volunteer their services to the community. It does not start after school stops, but before and during. The infractions listed under levels 1 &2 should first be addressed with mandatory hours of community service and counseling. Students with infractions ranging from levels 3-4 may benefit from outside assistance, but not the police dragging them off to jail. Programs like P.A.L.S, The Drug Free Program, The My Brother’s Keeper Initiative, Jr. Fire Fighters, Civil Air Patrol and R.O.T.C should be given as alternatives before suspension/expulsion. Students need to be given the opportunity to make choices about their lives and should not have to live the rest of their lives based on prior mistakes that can be learned from. Parents also have to be involved to ensure accuracy of the program. Many students don’t have the parental support they should at home academically. As educators/ advocates it’s the job to help these children and referrals obviously aren’t doing the job. Mentors should be available for all students, but especially those considered ‘troublesome’; those who don’t display those levels of resilience needed to succeed in a rather stagnant economy and need help preparing for professionalism. An equal amount of support is needed for the little ten percent of over fifteen thousand students so we can ensure that the same ten percent does not end up apart of another statistic of more grave and serious natures.

Since my personal experience and knowledge in the special education/needs field is very limited I’ll keep it very light. With all the fuss and focus on special needs kids and the infractions that usually land them in the principal’s office or a special committee to determine their educational fates has anyone taken record of such incidents to determine the causes and what can be done to remedy the situations? From my readings and a personal discussion with another there can be many factors that may cause a student of special needs to ‘act out’ and become ‘troublesome’. Could these students not also benefit from counseling and behavioral programs, instruction based on reflection on ones actions and determining the better action, rather than further excluding them from the rest of the student population and their peers? And do other students and school officials have a basic understanding/ underlying respect for those of special needs? If not they may benefit from such training/instruction to attain a higher level of positive social interactions between all students, special needs or otherwise, and school official s and administrative officers.

 Dropout rates are significantly lower, as graduation rates have increased; violence among adolescents in school and out has also drastically decreased. Don’t believe me, when was the last time you heard of a student being arrested or involved in a serious altercation (using weapons and causing critical harm)? I know it is nothing like it used to be, if continued at all. While I’d like to credit the wealth of opportunities that have been continuously presented to students for these changes, it alone cannot be the driving influence. Our community is the that driving influence and determining factor, whether its recognized by a majority or not; it is the community who illustrates the positive/ negative images in which our children choose to take part in, become a part of, or affiliate themselves with in any way they can.

For further readings on the U.S Virgin Islands on topics of education and our children please read “What About The Children We Failed”, Risk Factors for Challenging Behavior, and Too Much Violence; USVI Shootings Near Preschools

This blog post is the opinions of Ms. Child Advocate and does not reflect on the institution’s she is employed for nor is those she affiliated with through volunteer work or otherwise. For more opinions from us please visit our blog page usviearlychildhoodlearning.blogspot.com or email us at usvi.childhood.learning@gmail.com  and like us on Facebook or follow Ms. Child Advocate on Twitter.

  

Latest Student Included in “School to Prison Pipeline”

Latest Student Included in “School to Prison Pipeline”

Earlier this year I heard what I thought was great news, the president mandated that all schools receiving federal funding (most schools) will be ‘encourage decriminalizing school infractions’. What I meant by that was that now schools have a guideline to follow so students won’t suffer by being overly disciplined or disciplined unfairly amongst their peers. There are plenty of reports and statistics that have proven and driven for such policy changes, especially as it pertains to racial discrimination, but overall all students suffer. Those who are directly subjected and otherwise are all affected in such acts for it creates a feeling of inferiority among classes in the student body which in turn cases segregation that can lead to such politics regarding race. Many critics have come under fire of the Obama administration for the ‘guidelines’ they've set saying that it is racist because the guide post for leading the legislation is that there are more blacks in jail than whites, and that for his entire presidency he’s been overly zealous in his attempt to change the country; he doesn't help to elevate the poor and underachieved but to take from those of the high end of the economic scale.

Despite the opinions and feelings of others another incident involving a high school senior, a Caucasian male, proves that these infractions are truly costly to the futures of the students incurring them and that something needs to be done.

Jordan Wiser, a student at Ashtabula County Technical School in Jefferson, Ohio was expelled from school after a search of his car turned up a folding pocket knife in a jacket/vest, both used for EMT training. Because of his schools ‘Zero Tolerance’ policy Wiser was referred to the police department and expelled from school. Fox News reported that the school district is obligated to motion for expulsion once a student is found with banned items on campus. School officials reported that it was the decision of the police and prosecutors to charge Wiser with illegal conveyance of a weapon for having the knife which leads to him spending thirteen days in jail.

School officials maintain that he search was prompted after viewing Wiser’s YouTube page, but the videos posted are not of violently graphic, or horrific scenes; Jordan is there teaching the world how to wield the knife, yet he was expelled from school for it. As detailed on his YouTube page it is Jordan’s aspiration to join the Army and serve his country. Now his aspirations are to finish high school over an online program, rather than in the comfort of a classroom filled with his peers. For Jordan Wiser and all other students like him, the school to prison pipeline is very real and swift.

Regardless, the school to prison pipeline is a very real, very dangerous policy which educational administrators have practically built with their use of ‘zero tolerance’ policies and all students, regardless of their racial disparity are victims, once entering the system.  The ACLU defines the ‘school to prison pipeline’ as follows;

“A disturbing national trend wherein children are funneled out of public schools and into the juvenile and criminal justice systems. Many of these children have learning disabilities or histories of poverty, abuse or neglect, and would benefit from additional educational and counseling services. Instead, they are isolated, punished and pushed out.”

“The “school-to-prison pipeline” refers to the policies and practices that push our nation’s schoolchildren, especially our most at-risk children, out of classrooms and into the juvenile and criminal justice systems.  This pipeline reflects the prioritization of incarceration over education.”

Because of such incidents growing in numbers over the past years all over the nation the Obama administration has urged schools and administrators to amend zero tolerance policies, and school discipline procedures so that school infractions remain a school problem. The call for such action has been ridiculed as being slightly racist, but statistics have proven that minorities (black, Spanish, ELL’s, Special Needs, etc.) are those mostly affected by the strict disciplinary actions, and they are also among those who are falling behind. Within the ‘guidance package’ created by the administration to detour such infractions includes federal initiatives that coincide with school discipline as well as resources along with the guidelines.

 I urge parents as well as teachers and administrators to ‘push’ for integration and adaption of these guidelines. We, as a nation, only seem to take note of injustice ‘after’ the fact; its high time we step up to the plate and start making the hard decisions that will lead to better lives. By voicing our opinions, norms, and values we can help to steer school disciplinary infractions as we have fought for equality in education and even the abolishment of segregation.

The school to prison pipeline isn’t biased; it also has a zero tolerance policy. 

Too Much Violence and Abuse in Schools!!

 Over the past week and a half I've read some very disturbing reports of people whose job classifies them as 'education officials' but their actions define them otherwise; ignorant human beings. Teachers locking students in closets, verbal and physical abuse of students, and the use of racial slurs between pupils and in one horrid example a principal. How are we to expect students to focus on the importance of education when they are steadily side tracked with numerous, ominous situations that test their resilience constantly?

While the situation maybe considered to have been blown out of proportion a little, its still blatantly clear that the use of the N word was inappropriate and possibly uncalled for within the situation at hand. Principal Claudia Alves, of an elementary in Washington, opted to explain to students of the fifth grade why the word 'negro' is better than the N word. Students from the fifth grade class had become uncomfortable using the word negro in preparations for a play n observance of Dr. Martin Luther Kings holiday program, so principal Alves decided to explain why they shouldn't be uncomfortable with the word negro, but the N word. While there is no dialogue that outline the complete conversation, it is clear that her explanation only served to make matters worse. While one can empathize with the sensitivity of the situation, as an administrator, this principal should have been able to conclude that such a conversation with fifth grade students would have been controversial in some context.

In more disturbing news, high schools in Wake County, N.C are apparently 'flooding' the 'school to prison pipeline' with offenses as little as skipping line in the cafeteria. Students engaged within altercations over racial bias are sent to juvenile courts and placed on probation. One student engaged in such a situation after he was verbally assaulted with racial slurs and punched in the face, ended up being sent to juvenile court as well, where students receive juvenile criminal records; a stigma that never leaves them. Such incidents and others more gruesome attribute to the need for the new first federal legal guidance on school discipline.

Last, but certainly not least, a young man in high school was assaulted by officers for what apparently was a misunderstanding that lead to a straight A. high school basketball player receiving a ruptured testicle! Reports state that an patrol officer reported seeing teenagers in ski masks, while school officials with the team says they where given scarfs along with other gear to dress appropriately for the weather. Officers stopped this teen, who didn't give chase as other members of his team did, and reported a struggle, but their where no injuries reported to any officers. According to statements made by the teenager, a female officer whom searched him sexually assaulted him during the search while squeezing his testicles until he 'felt a pop'. The following day the teen underwent surgery and is now in a wheelchair pending recovery. Statements made by the teens mother state this may affect his ability to reproduce. He is the sole victim of this encounter and its because everyone else knew to be afraid of the police, although they hadn't done anything wrong, and to run away. Is this what we should be teaching our children? To fear the police, those who have sworn to protect us?

These incidents, while all different by nature, all have lasting negative effects/impacts that if left untreated, may become harmful to student morale. I was enlightened to read about an NFL figure that stood up against those bashing him as a 'thug' because of his actions at a football game. Football is well known for taunting, as are other sports, so why would reporters nationwide describe this black male, a college graduate and professional athlete as a 'thug' is unbeknownst to many. I do however agree with him that the word 'thug' is being used as a racial slur to describe black males, and while it may or may not be sued as a substitute for the N word, I do empathize with him and I'm sure each case must be judged individually.

Racial bias within schools has dramatically changed, as have the times but it isn't to an acceptable rate given the laws and ideals that we as humanity have set forth; it starts within the community.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/24/claudia-alves-washington_n_4661483.html?ir=Black%20Voices&utm_campaign=012414&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Alert-black-voices&utm_content=Photo

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/23/school-to-prison-pipeline-wake-county_n_4654351.html?ir=Black%20Voices

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/23/darrin-manning-testicle-rupture_n_4651700.html?ir=Black%20Voices

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/22/richard-sherman-thug-n-word-press-conference_n_4646871.html?ir=Black%20Voices&utm_campaign=012214&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Alert-black-voices&utm_content=Photo