Like a previous post, I too was recently informed via staff meeting about the impending changes aimed at curtailing issues of gang violence. Again, similar to Erin, I was extremely pleased at the possibility of an in school suspension. Suspension, as it currently stands, is essentially a reward for many children. It is a legitimate excuse to not have to come to school and hang out at home. In fact, when a student recently asked me how long spring break was and I replied with ten days he blurted out, "oh! it'll be like I got suspended."
In school suspension works in middle school because being removed from a social setting is an effective punishment for the age group. Isolation and strict, structured guidelines work. So thank you in advance to BCPSS for taking a positive step.
This brings me back to the fact that widespread, systemic, meaningful change in urban schools does not need to be profound, unusual or flashy. In fact, it is these simple solutions - in school suspension - that are needed. I honestly believe we know what works in schools, we just need to effectively implement them.
American Educator just published an article on taking a real approach to failing schools where they basically called for giving the most money, staff, resources, expertise and attention to the schools that are failing. It's nothing earth shattering. We are not reinventing the wheel here. We know the problems, but we also have a pretty good idea of what works. Lets get back to basics in a real, committed way. I think we'd be surprised at our success.
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