FNED 502 Social Issues in Education

June 7^th, 2018

Schools, Prisons, and Social Implications of Punishment: Rethinking Disciplinary Practices



“Throughout the United States, schools most frequently punish the students who have the greatest academic, social, economic, and emotional needs”

 

Pero A. Noguera states in his article that students that are most likely to be suspended, expelled, or removed from the classroom for punishment are students who are low achievers. This clearly reveals that minorities (especially Blacks and Latinos) are vastly overrepresented. Noguera also explains that the enactment of zero tolerance policies related to discipline in school districts has contributed to a significant increase in the number of children who are being suspended and expelled from school.  The information read on this article makes me think of how in my School district as well as in other Districts were friends of mine work, have a similar mentality when it comes to handling persistent behavior problems. Unfortunately, minority children are always over represented and always looked at being the main source of behavior problems around the school. Some School Principal think that removing difficult who exhibit bad behavior will be a positive. They think that removing them will make the school a safer place to learn.

Some schools employ plans where removing difficult children and send them home to be home-schooled while still collecting funds from the state for their average daily attendance work for them.  Under the plan, work would be sent home and, occasionally, a teacher or counselor would make visits to monitor the student’s progress. Because many schools focus their attention on tackling unwanted behavior, school authorities are not thinking of what the root of the problem is/are. So, I wonder, what is it about the way schools throughout the United States operate—without any apparent adaptation or uniform code; which results in the consistency of these patterns? Why is it that in order to keep peace and safety in school buildings Principals decide to punish the neediest and most disadvantaged students?  

Why are the poorest students being the ones most likely to be punished? I do not think that removing students with behavior issues is the answer to minimize these problems.  I believe that the needs of students are not being met due to the inability of schools to meet those needs. No none is paying attention to the fact that children who are behind academically and who are unable to perform at a level commensurate with grade-level expectations, often engage in disruptive behavior, either out of frustration or embarrassment. School’s lack of support results in students being disciplined constantly. Sad!

Noguera had an opportunity to tour an Elementary school in California. The assistant Principal of the school made a comment which to me is unfair. The Assistant Principal stated “Do you see that boy? There’s a prison cell in San Quentin waiting for him.” Pedro was surprised by the c comment the Assistant Principal made.  I aIso wonder, how was this person able to predict the future of this child? Unfortunately the boy’s father, uncle and older brother were imprisoned.

 

 The Assistant Principal added “see from how he behaves already that it’s only a matter of time before he ends up there too”. Noguera Promptly asked the man, “Given what you know about him, what is the school doing to prevent him from going to prison? Unfortunately the Vise Principal thought, this boy was not his responsibility. In fact, he was getting ready to give this child on an indefinite suspension from school.  Suspending, expelling students from schools due to behavior for many students becomes a vicious cycle of punishment that eventually leads to entanglement with law enforcement and the criminal justice system. Sadly, the Assistant Principal predicted that this misbehaving youngster’s future is troublingly prophetic.

Schools typically justify using removal through suspension or expulsion by arguing that such practices are necessary to maintain an orderly learning environment for others. Schools segregate and isolate minority students supposedly because according to administrators this will guaranteed a safe learning environment within the school building.  But does isolating/separating minority students from the rest of the school population actually work?  Schools whose main focus is minimizing negative behavior, will certainly produce low test scores.  The article mentions how teachers are worried because their test scores are low. Why? Simply because everyone at the school was trying to manage classroom disruptions. This issue will be alleviated when specialists are hired to work with behavior students.

Obtaining and employing the resources needed to meet the needs of the disadvantage will be a better solution to these problems. Providing student with the correct academic and social support will help them improve drastically.  Isolating/segregating students is simply not the solution.  Students should not feel they are in a prison or in a detention center(s).

Just like Noguera, I truly believe that just like affluent children, poor children are no less deserving of nurturing and kindness, and in fact they may require it even more than affluent children do. Children of all backgrounds should be treated respect and kindness. Just like Pedro Noguera, I also believe we should not have a rigid hand. We must show students values and we should value them as a human beings. Poor children are no less deserving of nurturing and kindness, and in fact may require it even more in order to overcome their obstacles and become successful lifelong learners.  Expelling minority students who exhibit negative behavior out of school will only add to the existing disciplinary issues many schools face.