Texas schools are taking a serious look at their zero-tolerance discipline policies, and many are realizing they need to make changes, according to a story by NPR. Certain offenses like fighting, disrupting class, or even using profanity can get students a “ticket” that, instead of sending them to the principal’s office, sends them to court.
Observers say that they’re seeing thousands of students being passed through the ticket and court system that’s meant for adults who have committed crimes. Once students have been ticketed by school police, they are required to go to court, where they may receive large fines in addition to being suspended or expelled. Further, after ticketed students have attended court, they are not always allowed to return to their home schools, and are instead required to attend “alternative” schools that focus on discipline and compliance with the rules.
Many of the students at the alternative school are dealing with extremely difficult situations at home, and often don’t have much adult support in their lives. The students also worry about what will happen in their futures. One 14-year-old says she doesn’t think she’ll be able to get into college after being sent to an alternative school. Twelve-year-old Danielle Delgado says of her future: “I’m pretty sure I’ll do fine,” she says, but then adds in a whisper, “I’ll be back here. … I’m a bad child.”
Stigmatization like this is just one of the hugely negative effects zero-tolerance discipline policies have on students. These policies that are meant to be objective and keep kids safe are often applied subjectively and keep kids from learning. LEV is bringing the school discipline conversation to Tacoma next Thurs, Dec. 8th. Join us and tell your legislators to stop school pushout.
Stop School Pushout: Diplomas Not Handcuffs
Thurs, Dec. 8th – 6:30pm
The Evergreen State College – Tacoma
Register here!
Listen to or read the whole story from NPR: In Texas, keeping kids in school and out of court
School Pushout leads to uneducated people in our communities who may learn behaviors that may contribute to future criminal behavior. This has been examined by sociologist Todd Gitlin, author of Media Unlimited. Gitlin describes the influence of media on our children and how it affects their behavior. If children are not exposed to school, they will choose media which may have a negative influence.