Zero-Tolerance Education Policies Are Destroying Young People's Lives

[marmar]

AlterNet / By Gara LaMarche

Zero-Tolerance Education Policies Are Destroying Young People's Lives
All too often, the debate about school reform has wrongly emphasized pushing troubled children out of school, rather than making systemic improvements.

April 13, 2011 |


It is too early to know whether the current wave of school reforms will lead to lasting improvements in student achievement. But it is not too early to note that many of these reforms have a troubling consequence: a doubling-down on harsh, ineffective zero-tolerance discipline policies. All too often, the debate about school reform has wrongly emphasized pushing troubled children out of school, rather than making systemic improvements so that all students have the support they need to learn.

For that reason, advocates nationwide are embracing efforts to improve school climate. School leaders are recognizing the ineffectiveness of zero tolerance. And as states grapple with untenable youth-prison budgets and Congress prepares to debate reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, a movement is building to end the ineffective, expensive, and tragic era of zero tolerance.

Nationwide, suspension and expulsion rates are at crisis levels. The most recent data from the National Center on Education Statistics showed that more than 3.3 million students were suspended or expelled in 2006 -- nearly one in 14. Of those, fewer than one in 10 were for violent offenses. The vast majority were for vague, noncriminal offenses, such as tardiness, talking back to a teacher, or violating dress codes.

For students of color, the crisis is even more extreme: In 2006, about 15 percent of black students were suspended, compared with 7 percent of Hispanic students and 5 percent of white students, according to NCES data. That year, about 0.5 percent of blacks were expelled from school, compared with 0.2 percent of Hispanic students and 0.1 percent of white students. Many of these suspensions are the result of excessively punitive discipline policies. Mirroring tactics used in the adult criminal-justice system and the "war on drugs," many school districts embraced practices that emphasize the long-term exclusion of students who violate school rules. Schools are relying more and more on the police and juvenile courts to address school-based behavior that used to be handled by educators. ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/rights/150594/zero-tolerance_education_policies_are_destroying_young_people%27s_lives/

[dkf]

1. Maybe if they learned something relevant, like how much a dropout makes vs a college graduate

They would stay in school

I've been lamenting the complete lack of financial education in our school system. Do kids understand how much income they need to survive in this world? Do they know how to save to buy a home? Do they know how much it takes to retire and how investing a little bit every month from an early age can grow to a significant amount? Do they understand how invested money makes money?

Do they know the value of a pension plan, the difference between defined contribution and defined benefit plans and the value of medical benefits?

If they don't learn these things they won't know the value of staying in school and the value of an education.

Sadly many adults have not learned this either.

[Bluenorthwest]

2. First, we learn to read....

This OP is not about kids who drop out, this is about suspensions and expulsions, kids forced out, often for trivial infractions. Perhaps the question is do the administrators know how important that education is to the kids they send packing for wearing the wrong shirt to school?
Just odd for you to speak of 'drop outs' when we are speaking of another subject entirely. I agree public school high school students should learn more about money and financial planning. But that is not the subject at hand. They should also learn how to shop and cook for food. Also not the subject at hand.

[exboyfil]

3. I think the first number that should be

written on the chalk(white) board is $14,000/yr. That is the amount per student spent by the local, state, and federal government combined per year for K-12 education. I got this number by taking the total spend for all three and dividing by the number of public school students. The second number should be the amount attributed directly to the school system per student.

Next sample paychecks from different occupations should be placed up there showing what all the line items mean along with what mid career workers earn in those various professions.

Your suggestion about the rest is good. Our students are required to take one Personal Economics class and several classes fit the bill. A Consumer Economics class is offered in 9th grade which few students take (I had my daughter take a study hall instead). A Math for Daily Living also satisfies that requirement but, according to my wife who took it 25 years ago, this course is a joke (maybe it has changed since then). The final major option is Economics which is probably basic Macro/Micro Economics and is taken by most college prep kids. They also have Adult Living classes which I know nothing about. Business Law and Introduction to Business which would be useful for your suggestion.

The Consumer Economics class might be the best for what you describe. A description of the course follows:


Consumer Economics is a course designed to aid the student as a consumer both now and in the future. Various areas of business studied include money management, career choices, banking,consumer information, insurance, and taxation. This course satisfies the personal economics requirement for graduation.

I think the course might be more effective in 11th grade than 9th grade. Since most of these topics are not of concern to a 9th grader, I am not sure much will stick with them. I do not regret my decision to have my daughter take 11th grade Economics instead. I can cover this material with her (actually I already do in many ways).

[bemildred]

4. "zero tolerance" == "intolerant", yes?

It's a recipe for thoughtless authoritarianism, and completely inappropriate in an education system.

[Jefferson23]

5. Yes, zero tolerance equals zero thinking. n/t

[flamingdem]

6. REC but

I was shocked to learn from a teacher friend that it's so horrible to teach in the inner city for him sometimes. A student threw a rock at him and they often use racial slurs to his face!
He is black in a mostly hispanic district.

It's difficult to create a space for learning with disruptive kids who do not want to be there.

On the other hand in a suburban school a kid was kicked out for having aspirin in her purse? Please that is ridiculous.