One of the most volatile topics on this blog is school discipline and whether there’s too much of it, too little and whether it’s applied equitably and sensibly.
The Georgia Appleseed Center for Law & Justice released a report Wednesday called “Effective Student Discipline: Keeping Kids in Class.”
The study examined state Department of Education discipline data and interviewed 200 people to see how discipline is used, particularly out of school suspension (OSS) in Georgia schools. Confirming other research, the study found that African-American students, poor kids and children with learning disabilities are more likely to be disciplined.
Some of you will respond that the higher rate of discipline and suspensions mirrors higher rates of infractions. But major studies suggest that offenses by minority kids are treated more harshly.
“And Justice for Some, ” a 2000 study by the U.S. Justice Department and six major research foundations, reviewed all phases of the nation’s juvenile justice system — from arrest to sentencing — and found that minority youth face more severe treatment at virtually every turn. The national data reveal a system in which children can expect to endure harsher outcomes if they’re black or Latino.
Read more here
This article once again sheds light on the discipline problems that are prevalent in ALL classrooms throughout the country, not just the studied case of Georgia. Georgia may have an alarmingly high number of cases where minorities are moving through the discipline and legal system, but there must be punishment for wrong doing. In every school system there is a warning system that precedes punishment. Not all children choose to correct negative behavior and further action is required. White children should be punished at the same extent for the the same rule infractions. No tolerance for the disregard of rules and authority should be extended, in my opinion, for any reason especially on the basis of race.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that this article is making us more aware of the discipline problems we, as a country, are having in the classroom. We are all equals and should be treated that way. Bottom line. No matter the age, race, or gender - equality should be enforced. No authotiry figure should punish one gender over the other just as no authority figure should punish one race and not the other. If you don't want your child punished at school then treat them the correct way to behave in and out of schools and then you don't have to worry about the need for a punishment to arise.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in elementary school, corporal punishment was still in effect and my mother supported it, as long as the circumstances called for it. Being that we are a baptist household, my mother did not spare the rod. As far as African Americans and minorites being punished more harshly, it brings to my attention the culture differences and social inequalities within all races. The majority of the time, AA's are for corporal punishment. However, that doesnt mean that kids of diffeent races should be treated differently, including punishment.
ReplyDeleteYes, minorities in general are disciplined more harshly than others. It starts in the school system and carries on into the jail system. I see it all the time, just watch the news. A white guy gets busted for Meth, they send him to rehab, a black guy gets busted for the same crime he's sent to jail. What about rehab? Was that not an option? Several times this year white kids have been charged for adult crimes but their picture was never put on the news and they were given diversion. Justice is SUPPOSED to be blind, I guess it all depends on the color of your skin!
ReplyDeleteI believe it has a lot to do with the geographical location in terms of the school! I have family members that live in upstate New York close to the Canadian border and we've had a similar discussion about this topic in the past. From what I gather, the school system as well as the teachers up there do not play around. Kids get OSS for having a cell phone in class or on their person because the rules state that they are to be placed in the locker during school hours and geographically it's 90-95 percent white. There is a warning process in place, however, the students are expected to understand that it is limited to one! They receive harsh punishments just as the children in the southern and other minority dominated regions.I lived in the south all my life and also remember corporal punishment but of course that wouldn't fly these days in any race dominated school. Be it video games, lack of home discipline, acting out for attention, ADHD, or whatever reason or condition that cause children to misbehave in school, the consequences should be the same across the board, within reason and taking in account certain circumstances.
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