ARCHIVED ARTICLES
Week of June 25, 2010
A Zero-Tolerance Fight at a Nursery School, The New York Times
A report in the NYTimes of the drive for zero-tolerance discipline in a pre-school in New York.
In the News: Stimulus funds for anti-violence; $1 billion in pension benefits, Catalyst Chicago
Chicago will deploy $25 million in stimulus funds to support anti-violence measures in schools.
NYC School Discipline Code Hearing, MyFoxNY.com
The NYC DOE held a hearing on its proposed revisions to the discipline code.
Zero Tolerance, Texarkana Gazette
A number of conservative leaning news outlets are expressing outrage over a student who was disciplined for bringing in a toy soldier.
Coventry boy’s small soldiers on banned hat attract ‘big guns’ offering support, The Providence Journal
The Providence Journal Bulletin points out that the ACLU and the National Guard also weighed in.
‘I Was Scared to Sleep’: LGBT Youth Face Violence Behind Bars, The Nation
It’s not just students of color that are disproportionately disciplined and sent to prison. This article highlights the school-to-prison pipeline’s disproportionate effect on LGBT kids.
‘Sext’ and the pity, New York Post
The NYPost has an article on parents who are speaking out against NYC’s effort to discipline youth for sexting both in and out of school.
Meadowlark Elementary sees discipline referral drop over school year, Buffalo Bulletin
Another story of alternatives to suspensions cutting down on discipline referrals – this one from Buffalo, NY.
Charter School ‘Chasers’ Track Down Dropouts and Dare Them to Graduate, Take Part
A profile of charter school “chasers” who are charged with tracking down youth who are not in school and bringing them back.
Opinions/Editorials
Teaching Totalitarianism in the Public Schools, The Rutherford Institute
A thought provoking polemic against the teaching of “totalitarianism” in schools and the culture of oppression and punishment.
Hard way to spend Father’s Day, The Post and Courier
A call to action from a father who hopes other fathers stand up and fight against the school-to-prison pipeline.
Whither common sense?, Montrose Daily Press
Op-ed criticizes the 8-year old RI kid who was punished for wearing a hat with a toy soldier on it.
Week of June 18, 2010
NYC Department of Education proposes to suspend students that are caught ‘sexting,’ Daily News
The NYC department of education is threatening to suspend any student caught “sexting” even if it happens outside of school jurisdiction.
Williams vows to revamp suspension policy, The Buffalo News
The tragic death of a student in Buffalo, NY who was shot after being suspended from school has prompted the superintendent to commit to reforming school discipline. Encouragingly, he is promising to do more to keep youth in school and engaged in their educations by cutting back on out of school suspensions.
Toy soldiers run afoul of school’s weapons ban, Associated Press
A student in Rhode Island was disciplined for wearing a plastic soldier on his hat – in violation of the school’s zero tolerance policy.
Middletown methods highlighted in report about reducing out-of-school suspensions, The Middletown Press
Middletown, CT was highlighted in the Voices for Children report for using positive methods to reduce suspensions.
Human Rights Report Reveals Widespread Non-Compliance with Mandatory Policy Aimed at Stemming ‘Pushout’ Crisis in South Los Angeles Schools, PR Newswire
Extremely low levels of School-Wide Positive Behavior Support policy implementation in South Los Angeles.
Manatee School Board Changes School Uniform Policy, The Bradenton Times
A Florida school board pushes for mandatory school uniforms.
Ed Dept. probing Bronx school over toilet duty corporal punishment, Daily News
A middle school in the Bronx is being investigated for punishing students by making them clean out the toilets.
Judge’s Order Gives Rosary Student Reprieve from School’s Discipline, LifeSiteNews.com
A NY school suspended a student indefinitely for wearing rosary beads, saying it was a “gang symbol.”
2009 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey, Education Week
EdWeek reports that the new youth risk behavior survey is out.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg unveils task force to address truancy in NYC schools, Daily News
Bloomberg launches a “truancy taskforce” in NYC.
8th Grader Suspended After Stopping Knife Attack At School, KTVU.com
A student in San Jose, California was suspended and barred from her 8th grade graduation because she took a knife from a friend of hers to prevent him from harming other students – the school charged her with violating its zero tolerance weapons policy.
‘Three strikes’ rule proposed for Bibb school discipline cases, macon.com
Bibb County in Georgia is considering a draconian “three strikes” rule which would automatically expel students after three disciplinary infractions.
Elimination of school seclusion rooms supported at hearing, Gainesville Times
Gainesville, GA is considering doing away with seclusion rooms for students.
Child removed from class because of hair product, King5.com
In Seattle, a student was taken out of class because her teacher didn’t like her hair product.
Opinions/Editorials
D.C. teachers go without support on discipline and hours, The Washington Post
A misguided letter to the editor, which argues that school districts are failing teachers by not being more strict on discipline.
Give Us the Truth About School Violence, Education Week
A pretty good commentary in EdWeek challenging the federal DOE to take school violence seriously and require schools to report accurately. The author does advance the problematic idea that there is a “school violence epidemic” that we need to stem – in fact, there is no proof that violence is getting worse – but at the same time he rightly argues that we need better data collection and we need to promote policies that work to make schools safe.
End corporal punishment, which is still legal in schools in 20 states, AnnArbor.com
A column from Ann Arbor, MI calls for an end to corporal punishment in schools.
Are Dropouts and Discipline Connected?, Education Week
An excellent piece by Walt Gardener at EdWeek drawing the connection between harsh school discipline and dropouts. If we want to address the dropout crisis, we need to do everything we can to keep students in school, engaged, and learning.
Week of June 11, 2010
City students charged with crime may be tossed, Union Leader
Manchester, New Hampshire has decided to ignore due process and make it possible for students to be expelled if they’ve been accused of crimes outside of school.
‘Three strikes’ rule proposed for Bibb school discipline cases, Macon.com
Bibb County, Georgia has decided to expel students after any three code of conduct infractions in two years, without the option of alternative schools. This is illustrative of the disturbing trend of basing school discipline on failed “tough on crime* strategies.
Delaware schools: Minority discipline high, but reason not so clear, Delaware Online
The News Journal in Delaware reports on racial disparities in school discipline. The article states that the reasons for the disparities are not clear. But are they unclear? We know that structural inequities are deeply embedded in schools across the country, and study after study has shown that racial bias permeates student teacher relationships in deep and complex ways
Delaware students suspended at twice the U.S. average, Delaware Online
Another article, highlighting that the overall rate in Delaware is higher than the national average – and that most offenses are minor. Here is the data.
Northeastern Wisconsin educators focus on alternative programs as expulsion numbers drop, Green Bay Press Gazette
An article on the focus on alternatives to punitive discipline (and the subsequent decline in expulsions) in northeastern Wisconsin
Conn. school use outside suspensions less often, study says, New Haven Register
The New Haven Register picks up the story (reported first yesterday) of Voices for Children’s new report showing that suspensions are down across Connecticut. Again, the decrease is good news, but there is more work to be done because it remains true that too many students are being suspended.
Federal case tests school rules on internet speech, WHYY
The Third Circuit court of appeals is going to decide a case about whether schools can discipline students for lewd speech on the internet.
Students ooh and ahh over new Pritchardville Elementary School, The Beaufort Gazette
An elementary school that will reward students for good behavior, rather than punishing them for bad behavior.
Community reacts to skirt ban at local middle school, WHAS11.com
A school in Kentucky has banned skirts.
Program seeks to guide troubled youth, The Orange County Register
A program that legitimately seeks to help kids, rather than inflicting overly punitive punishments. The program has already kept hundreds of kids out of jail and saved the county millions of dollars.
Opinions/Editorials
Destiny and Education: Secretary Arne Duncan, The SOP Transcript of Duncan’s recent speech, in which he reiterates the need to eliminate racial disparities in education and school discipline. Week of June 4, 2010
Emphasis in school should be on lessons, not problems, Delaware Online
Delaware schools suspend students at an absurd rate, but that isn’t a problem for this reader, who repeats the common misconception that kids nowadays don’t respect authority like they used to.
Zero tolerance for school bullies, Daily Press
This op-ed writer criticizes zero tolerance policies generally and believes other students and teachers should play a role to prevent bullying.
State needs to rethink school discipline, Delaware Online
Op-ed from Delaware about the state’s overuse of suspensions.
Schools must meet students’ diverse needs, Delaware Online
Op-ed regarding how to improve Delaware schools, including taking steps to end the school-to-prison pipeline.
Herhold: Don’t prosecute the Gunn student with the airsoft rifle, Mercury News
A 4.17 GPA high school senior will not walk at graduation and may not go to Cornell because someone spotted an airsoft (bb gun) rifle in his trunk.
Editorial: Keep judgment in code, Pensacola News Journal
A misguided op-ed that opposes due process for kids in schools.
Internet postings create major challenges for courts, The Herald
Op-ed against disciplining students for conduct outside of school.
Common-sense approach to school discipline needed, Delaware Online
An editorial in Delaware calls for common sense instead of zero tolerance in school discipline and praises the law going to the governor’s desk.
Is Bat-Wielding Detroit Principal Right Or Wrong?, TIME
Time picks up on the story of a principal in Detroit who carries a bat around with her to “maintain discipline” and terrorize her students.
In the past, Delaware law required that students nine years of age or older who committed crimes be reported to the police. A new law raises that age to 12.
Schools get good grades in reducing suspensions, ctpost.com
In Connecticut, Voices for Children has released a new report showing that suspensions are, overall, down around the state. There is still a long way to go to implement the state law intended to drastically cut back on suspensions, but this is good news.
US court weighs school discipline for Web posts, Associate Press
A US appeals court to decide whether schools can discipline students for cyber bullying outside of school.
School board lauds discipline plan, The Daily Advertiser
In Lafayette Parish, LA the school board is pleased with the results of a discipline matrix that was in place for the past year – they credit the matrix with reducing discipline referrals and standardizing punishments across the district.
School disciplinary rules OK’d in Delaware Senate, Delaware Online
A bill in Delaware relaxing the requirement that schools report crimes to the police (for children under 12) is headed to the governor’s desk.
Connecting Youth and the Community conference considers fair, effective punishment, Herald Review
A report from Decatur, IL on a conference aimed at raising awareness about the over-policing and over-criminalization of schools.
Microsoft founder Bill Gates 1.0 was problem child for mom, says billionaire’s dad, NY Daily News
Bill Gates, problem child, quoted in this article as saying, “maybe we could let parents here know that a very energetic kid who's pushing hard on the boundaries might turn out OK.”
Youth Suspended for Wearing Rosary Ordered Reinstated by Federal Judge, Associated Content
A federal judge overturns the suspension of a student in NY for wearing rosary beads (the school had identified the beads as a possible gang symbol).
Well-behaved Olson Park students get to celebrate, rrstar.com
An Illinois elementary school uses a Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports program to award well-behaved kids by allowing them to throw water balloons at their teacher.
District defends prom incident discipline, Montgomery Media
A Pennsylvania school district has decided to suspend a group of students guilty of underage drinking at prom, but will allow them to walk at graduation.
Instead of lockup, youth get a chance, The Orange County Register
A report from Orange County, CA on a program intended as an alternative to prison for youth who have got into trouble with the law.
Enforce discipline uniformly in city schools, panel says, Vindy.com
A panel in Youngstown, Ohio recommends a number of less punitive and more constructive strategies for school discipline.
Expert: End zero tolerance policies, Times Leader
Also in response to Cash for Kids, a report on the Education Law Center’s recommendation that zero-tolerance policies be eliminated and that student contact with police be limited. The report highlights that this was, in fact, the recommendation of the interbranch panel that investigated the Cash for Kids scandal.
Educators praise new zero tolerance law for schools, Times-Georgian
More reporting on the recent Georgia zero-tolerance law. The Times-Georgian reports that educators are pleased with the move toward common sense.
School leaders welcome zero-tolerance leeway, Gainesville Times
The Gainesville Times reports that administrators are happy with the change.
‘Zero Tolerance’ Trouble in New York, Newsweek
Newsweek has an interview with former NY State Court of Appeals Chief Justice Judith Kaye highlighting the problem of the “school to prison pipeline” and calling for less punitive, non-judicial responses.
Poughkeepsie residents march to end violence, Mid-Hudson News
Youth and community in Poughkeepsie, NY march against violence.
Opinions/Editorials
‘Zero tolerance’ was the culprit, The Morning Call
An excellent article from Pennsylvania in response to the recent report on the “Cash for Kids” juvenile court scandal. The author looks beyond the disgusting corruption of the judges who received kickbacks from juvenile prisons for sending kids away and sees that, at the heart of the problem, is the pervasive and punitive zero-tolerance philosophy that we have adopted towards youth.
Someone Is Watching: The Peril and Promise of School Surveillance, MR Zine
A critical review of “Schools Under Surveillance” a book discussing the rise of surveillance in public schools.
Expanding the Promise: Will the Cradle-to-Career Model Overtake the Cradle-to-Prison Pipeline?, The Huffington Post
An op-ed that evaluates Secretary Arne Duncan’s plan to reverse the school-to-prison pipeline with a cradle-to-career track.
More Threats to School Diversity, The Huffington Post
This op-ed analyzes the unfortunate trend toward desegregation.
