News Articles
Week of July 30, 2010
ACLU sues Hidalgo County JP’s over truancy cases, KGBT 4
The ACLU has sued Hidalgo County in Texas for its policy of locking up youth who are unable to pay heavy fines for truancy. In essence, the ACLU is suing Hidalgo for having created a direct school to prison pipeline that directly burdens low income youth of color.
How man children were expelled at your child’s school, and why? New report offers details, ABC Action News
From Hillsborough County, FL a report on how many students were expelled and why.
Peer pressure of another kind, Star Tribune
An encouraging report on peer dispute resolution (or peer courts) from the Minneapolis area. The quotes from the police officers show a recognition of the fact that the juvenile justice system is the wrong venue for actually addressing the problems that youth face. There are less punitive strategies than this – but it’s a positive alternative to arrests and tickets.
Humble ISD re-evaluates discipline, The Tribune
A school district in Texas has been cutting down on expulsions to save money – a good example of the economic argument against zero tolerance.
New Orleans student think tank zeroes in on violence, lunches, The Times Picayune
A student “think tank” in New Orleans is calling for alternatives to suspensions, expulsions, and arrests as part of a plan to reform schools.
Opinions/Editorials
Hang tough on troublemakers, The Post and Courier
An interesting editorial out of Charleston, South Carolina. The piece argues that while it may seem expedient and easy to expel “problem students,” it is not wise because it causes far greater social and economic costs down the road. The piece goes on to applaud the district for continuing to work to reduce suspensions and expulsions.
Criminalizing First-Graders, CounterPunch
A piece in CounterPunch highlights the insanity of treating first graders like criminals. The article highlights a suit recently filed by the Southern Poverty Law Center on behalf of a youth in Florida, but also refers to other cases where very young students are treated like criminals for normal expressions of anger or frustration.
UD professor: School security too aggressive, WDEL 1150AM
Schools Safer, Discipline Worse, News Wise
http://www.newswise.com/articles/schools-safer-discipline-worse
A report from Delaware on a professor’s new book challenging the harsh and unforgiving tactics of school security officers and administrators. Professor Kupchik argues that instead of rigid rules that kick students out of class, schools should actually try to listen to youth and help them.
Can good architecture transform a troubled school?, BBC News
The BBC asks whether better physical school architecture can improve a school culture.
Are Public Schools Becoming Prisons?, United Liberty
A libertarian musing on whether schools are turning into prisons.
Justin Swindler, expelled from Bethlehm Area School District 12 years ago for website mocking teacher, reflects in the middle of related ongoing court cases, The Express-Times
A student who was suspended 12 years ago for making a website mocking a teacher reflects on the ongoing lawsuits in Pennsylvania regarding school discipline for facebook pages.
Julia Steiny: Students should know the behavioral rules of the road, The Providence Journal
An interesting column from Providence, RI on the importance of ensuring that youth understand the discipline regime that they are living under – and on the power of discipline to turn positive outlooks on school negative. The upshot – good discipline comes from strong school communities.
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