Based on what you read in the Schwartz & Rieser piece (and your own experiences), what do you think of "zero tolerance" policies in schools? What should the goal of school disciplinary policies be? When rules are broken, is it a time to punish? A teachable moment? Both?
Also...
The film Juvies has a lot to say about the juvenile justice system and treating kids as "lost causes." What does it have to say to teachers or future teachers--particularly to teachers in city schools?
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3 comments:
I think that zero tolerance policies definitely need some remodeling.
In the article by Schwartz and Rieser it talked of the ESEA that was passed requiring states to "expel for at least one year students who possessed a gun on school grounds." I am not so sure that I agree with expelling the student for a year. What is this child going to do for a year? Get in to more trouble because they think the school does not care about them?
This policy has been taken to an extreme on numerous occasions as the article states. One that I could not believe was when the six-year-old boy was suspended for having a plastic axe....for his Halloween costume?! I was extrmely shocked and disgusted at this. There was not even a need for punishment in this case.
It also talked about how a child was removed from school for writing in their own personal journal that a teacher so happened to have found and saw that the child wish the teacher was dead. Doesn't everybody have bad feelings about someone once in a while? I also thought this was kind of an invasion of privacy because it was a personal journal, not one that the teacher was making the students keep.
So, I guess I do not really agree with this policy 100% but if it had some revisions it might work.
Zero tolerance is based on a good idea. It just needs to be modified so cases are look at individually for what they are not just grouped under categories.
I would have to disagree with mkratz on the student being suspended for a year for bringing a gun to school. The school has a top priority to keep safety as top priority. There is no reason that a gun being brought to school can be justified. In today’s time with the incidents that have been in the media, educators have to take this seriously with appropriate action taken. The student could be sent to alternative school, but I do not believe the punishment to be too strict.
On the other hand I do agree that some of the circumstances are completely outrageous. Between the lipstick holder, the ax, and the nail clipper schools are just making too much of nothing.
I feel extreme punishment should be the last option and that schools should work with students to come to a resolution that benefits all parties. Schools are placed in tough situations, you want to provide the best for every student, but to what extent can you continue to make efforts for one student when it may harm other students?
I had a lot of strong reactions to the movie Juvies. When i was watching this movie i didn't understand how our justice system can be so cruel and not be understanding to these adolescents. A big issue that we discussed in class was the fact that each case, whether similar or not, had a wide range in difference between the years of punishment. For example, Duc, who was charged for attempted murder recieved 35 years when another prisoner that was on trial for murder only recieved 10 years. These sentencing differences make a huge impact on these adolescents lives and i feel that there should be some standards or rules to follow when regulating the sentencing charges.
Also, I was really surprised that they got rid of the juvy programs that were helping educate these young adolescents while in jail. These programs are the things that are going to help these adolescents and protect them when they get out of jail. If there were education programs for young adults while they are in jail then there would be less of a likelyhood of them re-entering jail when they finally get out. Another issue was the fact that all of these teens seemed to have serious family issues before they were turned to violence. I was questioning why these teens had to go to such extremes as to run away or turn to gangs in order to cope with their issues. In my opinion, there needs to be more programs that are readily available for teens to help them with some of their issues so that they are able to get help before the problems get worse. I know that in some cases, depending on the family and their resources, it is hard for these teens to get help or to find someone who they feel comfortable talking to, but there should be something or somewhere for them to go to get away from their family issues.
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