ARCHIVED ARTICLES
Week of April 29, 2011
Study: School Climate a Key Factor in Feelings of Safety, University of Arizona
A study from the University of Arizona links student and teacher perceptions of school safety to a positive school climate.
Teacher used water bottle to discipline student, Sun Sentinel
A student alleges that a teacher in Florida sprayed her in the face with a water bottle as a form of discipline.
Russ Lemmon: Expulsion hearing to shed light on environment at middle school, TCPalm.com
A story from Florida about a school’s harsh response to a fight and a grandfather’s fight to keep his grandson in school.
State board considers changing school discipline rules, The Baltimore Sun
Maryland is considering a new statewide rule that would limit the amount of time that a student can be suspended from school pending the outcome of an appeal of a disciplinary action.
Perry Student Suspension Controversy, WGMT 41
A student in Texas is caught in a zero-tolerance policy for holding her friend’s pocket knife – she’s being punished because her mom reported the incident.
Charters ‘nix 23%’ of kids, New York Post
The New York Post, usually an advocate for charter schools, has a piece about how easy it is for charters to expel students because of “behavior.” The article says that 23% of students are “nixed” and gives examples of very minor infractions that have led to being pushed out.
Students and the law, Hernando Today
From Hernando County in Florida, following up on the story last week that more than 400 students were arrested over the last two years, the paper interviewed the DA in charge of prosecuting those students.
Online Activism Aims to Stop School Spankings, Mashable
Online Campaign Forms to Ban School Paddling, TMC
A couple of stories on Marc Ecko’s campaign to stop corporal punishment.
Suicides stir two families to action, StarTribune
A suggestion that zero tolerance school discipline was implicated in the tragic suicide of two teenage girls in Minnesota.
Schools Chancellor To Look Into Handcuffing Of Special Needs First-Grader, NY1
More on the 7-year old in NYC who was handcuffed and dragged out of school after having a tantrum. Chancellor Walcott promises to look into the incident and an assemblyman proposes a ban on handcuffing students.
Schools chancellor says at times restraints are needed, will look into handcuffing of special ed boy, NY Daily News
Walcott also says that restraint is necessary sometimes. The quotes from the student in this article are heartbreaking.
Opinions/Editorials
Libby McCullough on her Son, Aspergers and the School to Prison Pipeline, Juvenile Justice Information Exchange
A mother’s story of her son’s struggle with Asperger’s Syndrome and how he was being pushed down the School to Prison Pipeline.
A revival of flogging?, The Economist
A provocative argument from a former Baltimore cop that we should give convicted criminals a choice between incarceration and flogging. The Economist uses it as a springboard to talking about Hawaii’s innovative probation program.
Brilliant solutions for Philly’s school violence crisis, Chestnut Hill Local
A very snarky set of suggestions for dealing with school violence in Philly.
Week of April 22, 2011
Cops Cuff 7-Year-Old Special-Ed Student, gothamist
In New York City, a 7 year old special needs student was dragged out of his classroom in handcuffs when he became upset.
444 students arrested at schools in past two years, Hernando Today
From Florida, a report that there were 444 arrests in Hernando County schools over the last two years. The article argues that many of these arrests were unnecessary and notes that the state has just released new guidance to help cut back on unnecessary use of law enforcement.
Humiliation in classroom a painful lesson, Times Union
A 6th grader in New York State was sent to Kindergarten as punishment for “acting silly.”
Timber Creek students face discipline for protest walk-out, The Keller Citizen
Students at a school in Texas are being punished for walking out in protest.
Handcuffs allegedly used at JPS school, Clarion Ledger
A report from Jackson, MS that students at an alternative school are being disciplined with handcuffs for hours at a time.
Agent Won’t Be Charged, Wall Street Journal
In NYC, an off duty SRO who shot someone who he said was trying to rob him won’t be charged.
Prisons vs. Schools, Education Week
EdWeek picks up on the NAACP report.
HPD investigates how child managed to bring gun to school, KHOU
In Houston, a kindergartner brought a loaded gun into school and it accidentally went off hurting some students.
Broward schools relax zero tolerance policy on toy guns, Sun Sentinel
In Broward County, FL the district finally relaxes its zero tolerance policy for toy guns.
LAPD Won’t Ticket Tardy Students on Their Way to School Anymore, Colorlines
School’s Cool: Tough Love Truancy Ticketing No More, LAist
LAPD eases daytime curfew enforcement on teens, Southern California Public Radio
LAPD adjusts daytime curfew policy, ABC 7
Colorlines, and others, pick up the story of the big news in Los Angeles that organized youth have succeeded in getting LAPD to stop ticketing students outside the school building for being late to school.
Recess revolution: Introducing structure and organization to play time, Desert News
Structured recess is catching on as a way of controlling youth behavior.
Civil rights office examines school discipline of black male students, Winston-Salem Journal
The federal DOE’s OCR is looking into racial disparities in school discipline in Winston Salem, NC.
Skyline High School students protest tardy policy, ABC 4
Students at a Utah high school walk out in protest for the school’s policy of fining them $3 every time they are tardy – no exceptions.
Police to stop ticketing tardy students on their way to school, Los Angeles Times
Great news, the police in LA have agreed to stop issuing truancy tickets to students who show up late for school.
Tenn. Cracks Down on Truancy for Standardized Tests, Education Week
Schools in Tennessee are cracking down on truancy during standardized testing.
BYU discipline harsher on black athletes, report says, The Salt Lake Tribune
According to a Deadspin report, 80 percent of BYU athletes who have been disciplined for violating the school’s moral code are students of color.
USDOJ: Department of Justice and Education Reach Agreement with Owatonna, Minn., Public Schools to Resolve Harassment Allegations, 7th Space
The US DOJ and DOE’s OCR resolved an investigation into disparate treatment of Somali immigrants in Minnesota.
Opinions/Editorials
States’ Shameful Trade-Off: Putting Prisons Over Public Schools, AlterNet
Michelle Chen’s article about the NAACP report is picked up by AlterNet.
Mt. Diablo schools must address high rates of minority students in special education programs, or suspended or expelled, Mercury News
In California, the Mt. Diablo school district is told to change the policies that are leading to more students of color being identified for special education and school discipline.
Student behavior hasn’t changed, but schools’ responses have, SIlive.com
An interesting column from Staten Island arguing that students’ behavior hasn’t changed over the years – schools’ responses have.
Let’s take the cuffs off Texas kids, Houston Chronicle
State Rep. Gidding’s piece on decriminalizing Texas youth is reprinted in the Houston Chronicle.
Just another report on violence in Philadelphia schools, Philadelphia Inquirer
A column in the Philly Inquirer argues that the schools aren’t to blame for school violence – it’s the social conditions.
It’s Time to End Zero Tolerance in Schools: A Call to Action, Atlantic Philanthropies
Atlantic Philanthropies calls for an end to zero tolerance. Advancement Project is mentioned several times.
Editorial: Better ways to deal with truants, Detroit Free Press
A good editorial from the Detroit Free Press highlighting programs that intend to deal with truancy by giving students the support they need and getting them to school, rather than by suspending or criminalizing them.
Helen Giddings: Breaking the handcuffs on Texas children, The Dallas Morning News
A Texas state legislator has a piece in the Dallas Morning News speaking out against criminalizing youth for minor misbehavior in school (subscription required).
Violence is not an option, Philadelphia Public School Notebook
Good recommendations for addressing youth violence from the Philly Notebook.
School rules should protect victims, not antagonists, Fairfax Times
The Fairfax Times says that the push for reform is overreacting and that victims should be protected.
Inquirer Editorial: Less violent schools, Philadelphia Inquirer
A surprisingly lucid editorial from the Philly Inquirer pushing back on the idea that the solution to school violence is more police in schools. The paper says, “Instead of making schools look like prisons, look at what's working in the schools successfully addressing violence and replicate it in those doing a poor job.” The editorial still falls back to some degree on more zero tolerance and a “bad apples” approach to discipline, but at least it has the sense to recognize that schools should be schools, not prisons.
Johnson: Treating kids like criminals shows adults’ failure, The Denver Post
An excellent Op-Ed in the Denver Post arguing that treating students like criminals reflects poorly on the adults.
Zero-Tolerance Education Policies Are Destroying Young People’s Lives, AlterNet
The Time Is Right to End "Zero Tolerance" in Schools, truthout
Gara LaMarche’s column is reprinted at AlterNet and truthout.
Week of April 15, 2011
Ramsey: cops in Philadelphia schools should be mentors, News Works
Nutter and Ramsey consider putting armed police officers in some schools, The Philadelphia Inquirer
Predictably, the recent reporting on violence in Philly schools has prompted some, including the mayor and chief of police, to suggest that the answer to the question is putting more police in place – this time armed. More police has never been the right answer, in Philly or anywhere else that it’s been tried. We need safe, not “secured” schools.
Bill would examine disparity in DPS, state student discipline, Denver Top News Examiner
The Denver Examiner reports on the bill in Colorado to set up a group to study discipline in the state.
CLOUT Calls for Expanded Bullying Policies, WFPL News
A community group in Louisville (CLOUT) is calling for tougher bullying policies.
CCISD grapples with discipline rates, Corpus Christi Caller Times
A story on high discipline rates in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Schools improve discipline, but budget cuts could thwart progress, Corpus Christi Caller Times
Also in Corpus Christi, a piece suggesting that budget cuts may threaten gains in school discipline.
Going online to avoid violence, The Philadelphia Inquirer
Some students in Philly are turning to online education to avoid violent schools.
Discipline problems plague city schools, Republican American
Complaints about discipline in Waterbury, CT schools.
Multiple Responses, Promising Results: Evidence-Based, Nonpunitive Alternatives to Zero Tolerance, Child Trends
A new study outlining positive, non-punitive, evidence-based alternatives to zero tolerance.
Is this the year for anti-saggy pants law in Florida?, Bradenton Herald
Florida’s anti-saggy pants bill, which was passed by the Florida Senate, is progressing in the Florida House.
School discipline violations decrease across Ky., FOX19
Student policy violations in Kentucky are down.
Discipline likely in brownie brouhaha, The Boston Globe
Students in North Andover, MA are likely to face discipline after their pot brownies made teens so sick they required hospitalization.
Opinions/Editorials
‘Zero tolerance’ failed city schools, The Philadelphia Inquirer
A piece in the Philly Inquirer warning the paper and the city not to address violence with the failed strategy of zero tolerance.
The Time Is Right to End “Zero Tolerance” in Schools, The Huffington Post
The CEO of Atlantic Philanthropies says that it is time to end zero tolerance.
Week of April 8, 2011
Gingrich backs NAACP jail study, Politico
Newt Gingrich is among the first to publicly support the NAACP’s report.
Norquist Sees Savings in Prison Reform, Roll Call
Grover Norquist is also a fan.
Prison Versus Education: NAACP Report Spotlights Spending, Population Ratios, LAist
LAist picks up the LA angle – and shows a picture of a billboard.
High prison rates, low-performing schools linked, Clarion Ledger
The NAACP is releasing an important report entitled “Misplaced Priorities” that draws the connection between mass incarceration and struggling schools. It is drawing a lot of support from conservatives. From Jackson, MS, a local paper observes that two zip codes account for $25 million in taxpayer costs for prisons.
Student Behavior, Education Week
A new study from North Carolina finds that students with behavior problems don’t necessarily struggle in school – but that teachers perceive “well-behaved” students to be successful academically and “badly-behaved” students to be struggling. This offers some support for the observation that it is often the smartest kids who act up in class – because they see the oppressive conditions and resist them.
Woman criticizes Lakewood police for using pepper spray on her unruly son, The Denver Post
In Jefferson County, Colorado, police sprayed an eight-year-old with pepper spray while he was in a tantrum.
Gibson: There Needs to Be Consequences For Drug Offenders in Schools, FairfaxCityPatch
One Fairfax school board member is pushing back against efforts to create a less punitive drug policy.
Mayor promises action on Phila. school violence, The Philadelphia Inquirer
In Philly, Mayor Nutter says that he’ll do what he can to address youth violence.
City to Start Collecting Data on Student Arrests, Suspensions, WNYC
In New York City, the schools are going to have to start keeping much better data on discipline as the School Safety Act finally goes into effect this week.
Kentucky school safety report shows lingering discipline problems in Jefferson County, The Courier-Journal
Jefferson County, KY (Louisville) is seeing an increase in discipline issues.
No Changes To Fairfax County Public Schools Discipline Policy, myfoxdc.com
No changes yet to the district discipline policy in Fairfax.
Civil Rights: Deconstructing the school-to-prison pipeline, The Michigan Citizen
A piece from Michigan discussing the School to Prison Pipeline and racial injustice.
Donna ISD to Step Up Campus Security Measures, KRGV.com
In Texas, a school district is responding to a weapons incident by calling for metal detectors in middle schools.
As School Suspensions Soar, Many Seek a Different Approach, Gotham Gazette
An important article in the Gotham Gazette about the spike in suspensions across New York City, and about efforts to seek other ways of dealing with discipline.
ACLU sues Livingston schools over boy’s hair length, WWL.com
The ACLU has filed suit against a school district in Louisiana for disciplining a student for his long hair.
Fairfax superintendent proposes changes to controversial discipline policies, The Washington Post
Superintendent Suggest Plan to Improve Discipline in Schools, NBC Washington
School Board to address expulsion and transfers, Fairfax Times
Fairfax Superintendent Outlines Proposed Discipline Changes, WAMU
‘Zero Tolerance’ may be amended in Fairfax schools, WTOP
Lots of local coverage on Fairfax Superintendent Dale’s proposed policy change.
State judge extends injunction, Cherokeean Herald
A state judge in Texas is blocking a district’s move to assign three students to alternative schools for drinking on a field trip.
Young children – from kindergarten to 10-year-olds – increasingly have been assaulting classmates, Inquirer investigation shows, The Philadelphia Inquirer
More reporting from Philly on school violence, this time looking at young students and their parents.
Opinions/Editorials
Prison spending bleeds education system, CNN
Ben Jealous and Rod Paige co-author an op-ed for CNN.
NAACP: U.S. Prisons Funded At Expense Of Education, NPR
NPR picks up the story on Tell Me More.
NAACP, Grover Norquist Team Up on Prison Reform, Firedoglake
Lefty Firedoglake points out the strange bedfellows.
Newt Gingrich and the NAACP, Together Over Criminal Justice Reform and Century Blvd. Billboard, LA Weekly
LAWeekly covers the launch – there’s a billboard in LA.
NAACP, right urge alternative to prison for nonviolent felons, The Washington Times
The conservative Washington Times also agrees with the NAACP.
New Mexico bans spanking of children in schools, The Baltimore Sun
New Mexico passes a corporal punishment ban.
Fairfax schools are right to relax extreme discipline policies, The Washington Post
An op-ed in the Washington Post supporting Fairfax’s move to relax its harsh discipline policies.
The Time Is Right to End ‘Zero Tolerance’ in Schools, Education Week
An excellent piece from Gara LaMarche, President of Atlantic Philanthropies in Education Week. Advancement Project is named several times.
Philadelphia schools don’t have to be violent, The Philadelphia Inquirer
An Op-Ed from Philly suggesting ways to address violence in schools. Some of the suggestions are wise (ensure that punishments are fair and not arbitrary, work to support and engage students) while others continue to partake in the “bad apples” theory of education (send more of the disruptive students to alternative schools). It is striking that, despite the uproar, little attention is being paid to the research in this area.
“Let’s Start A French Revolution In The Hood!,” Gotham Schools
An interesting story from a teacher about students wanting to start a French Revolution against their autocratic principal.
Zero-tolerance out of whack, One News Now
Child Suspended From School For Crying, Care2.com
Another commentator picks up the story from Virginia Beach where a kindergartener was disciplined for crying in class
Classroom discipline and duct tape do not mix, The Sun Sentinel
In Miami, a student reported that her teacher put duct tape on her mouth as a means of disciplining her.
Knife-carrying student gets suspended; would rather get GED than go to Northeast High School, The Pitch
A student in Kansas City has been expelled from a magnet school for bringing in a pocket knife to school – says she’d rather get her GED than go to the non-magnet high school.
Inquirer Editorial: Can’t learn with violence, The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philly Inquirer follows up its series on school violence with a misguided editorial blaming the problem on “lax” and “inconsistent” discipline. The implied answer? Harsher discipline and zero tolerance. The Inquirer continues its pattern of ignoring study after study showing that the way to actually reduce school violence and create healthy school communities is to step away from punitive policies and toward more positive, restorative approaches.
Spare the rod, please, Silver City Sun-News
An Op-Ed from New Mexico supporting a bill that would ban corporal punishment.
How Fairfax can get school discipline right, The Washington Post
From advocates in Fairfax County, VA, an opinion piece in the Washington Post recommending discipline reforms.
Annette John-Hall: Blame game won’t stop school violence, The Philadelphia Inquirer
A thoughtful column in response to the Philly Inquirer’s in depth reporting on school violence that essentially asks the question: what is the root cause of all this violence? The author concludes that policing and punishing are not the best ways to address the problem.
School discipline policies should be productive, not punitive, The Washington Post
A letter to the editor of the Washington Post proposes restorative practices for Fairfax.
FTZR: Good Start, But Want Transfer, Notification, Fairness Changes, Fairfax City Patch
Fairfax Zero Tolerance Reform chimes in on Dale’s discipline proposal.
Dale Recommends Relief for Students Caught With Meds, But What About Others?, Burke Patch
More on Fairfax. The article asks – great about prescription meds, but what about others?
Crying, foul: Kindergartener gets suspended for tearing up, The Globe and Mail
Reporting from Canada, the Globe and Mail picks up on the story of a kindergartener in Virginia Beach who was suspended for crying in class.
Week of April 1, 2011
Kicking the Class C Ticket Out of Classrooms, Dallas Observer
Texas Appleseed and the ACLU of Texas were testifying before the legislature yesterday to do away with ticketing for class C misdemeanors in school in the state.
Use of Force in Texas Public Schools, ACLU of Texas
The ACLU of Texas has released a report that complements Appleseed’s recent report outlining the use of force in public schools and its relationship to police and criminalization.
Schools Under Pressure to Spare the Rod Forever, The New York Times
The NYTimes looks into the ongoing practice of corporal punishment and efforts to end it in the 20 states where it persists.
Symposium examines ‘school to prison pipeline’ for black teens, The South End
Reporting on a symposium on the School to Prison Pipeline at Wayne State Law School.
Closing the Door on Juvenile Lockups, The American Prospect
An article in The American Prospect about states’ move away from juvenile detention, but warning that local services are still necessary.
When Police Interrogate Children, The Moral Liberal
Another libertarian attack on authoritarian schools – looking at the recent Supreme Court case on student interrogation.
Inquirer investigation shows widespread underreporting of violence, The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Inquirer also reports wide-spread underreporting of violent incidents.
High school relents on prom tux for girl, DailyComet.com
School now says girl can wear prom tux, WWL.com
A school in Louisiana initially said that if a senior girl refused to wear a dress (she wants to wear a tuxedo) she can’t come to prom.
Climate of Violence Stifles City Schools, The Philadelphia Inquirer
An in depth piece on school violence in Philadelphia from the Philly Inquirer. The article tells some gut wrenching stories, but its tone suggests that the solution is “toughness” and Ackerman’s zero tolerance approach. Instead, more attention should be paid to the efforts of Philly Student Union and Youth United for Change who are offering constructive policies to heal punitive and dangerous school cultures.
Fairfax schools consider recording student disciplinary hearings, The Washington Post
Fairfax, VA is considering audio recordings of disciplinary hearings as part of its proposed reforms.
St. Augustine High School paddling policy is ‘not broken,’ marchers say, The Times-Picayune
In New Orleans, a large rally was held in support of a paddling policy at a local catholic school.
Teachers blame budget cuts for rising student misbehavior, The Bakersfield Californian
Another article from Bakersfield which quotes teachers who blame budget cuts for making administrators want to keep students in school to get more state money – shouldn’t everyone want to keep kids in school?
Mom says school strip-searched 13-year-old daughter, KDVR Fox 13
Schoolgirl, 13, ‘scared, mad and embarrassed’ after being STRIP SEARCHED in front of two men, Daily Mail
In Denver, a 13-year old girl was strip searched by school officials and police after a fight. The story was even picked up in the UK.
Office of Civil Rights to examine discipline of black students, Winston Salem-Journal
OCR is going to visit Winston Salem, NC next month as part of an investigation into racial disparities in school discipline there.
Chicago’s Silent Watchmen Guard School Route, NPR
NPR reports on Chicago’s “safe passage” program aimed at protecting students on their way to and from school.
Creating Calm in Chicago’s Schools, NPR
And NPR also reports on “peace rooms” in Chicago – part of an effort to sow peace and calm in schools.
Phila. students draft rules for safety and a voice on policy, The Philadelphia Inquirer
In Philly, students draft rules for giving them a voice in school safety.
State school board considers regulation on student discipline, The Baltimore Sun
Maryland is considering a law that would limit the amount of time that a school can keep a student out of school pending his or her appeal of a suspension or an expulsion. The move is in part a response to the recent tragedy in Fairfax, Virginia.
Bill Would Allow Teachers To Use Force In Classroom, WMUR
More reporting on the proposed bill in New Hampshire that would allow teachers to use physical force in the classroom without fear of criminal or civil suit.
BCSD vows action on student discipline issues, The Bakersfield Californian
Teachers blast BCSD student discipline policy, Eyewitness News
From Bakersfield, California, teachers are complaining that students are out of control. Teachers are blaming a district effort to bring down suspensions for students not being “punished” enough.
Opinions/Editorials
School discipline process can be improved, Fairfax Times
A Fairfax school board members says that discipline processes can be improved.
Students’ exodus is the verdict on violence, The Philadelphia Inquirer
An op-ed from Philadelphia credits the decline of the student population (through drop out and moving away) to school violence.
Marc Lamont Hill: Invasions of privacy too high a price, The Philadelphia Inquirer
Another columnists recounts his experience with the extreme school security and says that zero tolerance is not working.
Benjamin Chambers on Reducing School Violence and Suspensions with Restorative Justice, Juvenile Justice Information Exchange
A good article on the overuse of suspension and how to deal with discipline better.
Zero Tolerance Overreaction, The Moral Liberal
Conservative commentator Phyllis Schlafley takes on Zero Tolerance.
