Government Accountability Office Offers Key Takeaway Points Regarding Discipline In Schools

Source: Find Au Pair

How does a teacher deal with a difficult student?  Throw the student out of class?  Let them continue to be disruptive and focus on the students who are being attentive?  I often wonder what parents think appropriate answers are to the questions above and below (in the post below).  The reason why I bring the subject up was due to an e-mail which caught my eye with the following "key findings" from a study done by the Government Accountability Office regarding discipline in our education.  Below are some findings and thoughts.  Feel free to share any comments/suggestions that you may have after reading the following excerpts.

Discipline In Education?

According to Politico Education (in the form of an e-mail), the following 'key takeaways' were found regarding "school discipline' in the recent report by the Government Accountability Office:

Boys overall were more often disciplined than girls, but the pattern of disproportionate discipline affected both black boys and black girls - the only racial group for which both sexes were disproportionately disciplined in every way: In-school and out-of-school suspensions, expulsion, corporal punishment, referral to law enforcement and school-related arrests.

- Minority students with disabilities are hit especially hard. Nearly a quarter - 23 percent - of black students with disabilities were suspended from school. More than 20 percent of American Indian and Alaskan Native students with disabilities were suspended from school. More than 25 percent of students who identify as two or more races and have disabilities were suspended.

- Poverty is a factor: The GAO found that when there were greater percentages of low-income students in a school, there were generally significantly higher rates of all types of discipline. But black students, boys and students with disabilities were still disciplined disproportionately, regardless of the level of school poverty. And, as was the case in every type of school, black students bore the brunt of it. In high-poverty schools, they were overrepresented by nearly 25 percentage points in suspensions from school, according to the report.

- The disparities can be a drag on the economy . The GAO report notes that research has shown that students who are suspended from school are less likely to graduate on time and more likely to drop out and become involved in the juvenile justice system. "The effects of certain discipline events, such as dropping out, can linger throughout an individual's lifetime and lead to individual and societal costs," the report said. It pointed to one study of California youth that estimated that students who dropped out of high school because of suspensions would cost the state about $2.7 billion. Another study the GAO referenced estimated that Florida high school students who drop out earn about $200,000 less over their lifetimes.

Wow!  All children and adults (in college) deserve to be treated equally.  That includes discipline as well.  Why are there differences in discipline rates?  Part of that might be attributed to 'implicit bias' from the faculty to students.  At the university level, there are programs which have begun to address these longstanding issues which have been ignored for so long.  What about at the K-12 level? I do not know personally.  If any reader does, please feel free to comment in the box below.



I have said this time and time again on this blog site that our educational system is great need of a 'reform.'  In fact, at my own university (of employment), I have spoken with the department chair of education and asked how to achieve 'true reform'.  His answer at the time was that the process is similar to 'optimizing a manufacturing process.'  That is, make a change and test the result.  Follow the first change by a second and so on -- continuously optimizing the educational system in the process.



If that is what has been occurring for the last few decades, then why do we find ourselves in this predicament?  With the lowest test grades on an international average?  With extremely high and disproportionate discipline rates?  When is true improvement going to occur?  I do not pretend to have the answer.  And I have a large amount of respect for those teachers who find themselves on the front lines -- battling for the change -- positive change.

Suspension

School suspension does not work.  Why?  I was suspended and I found myself sitting in my room in Junior high school with a mother who had to take the day off of work to deal with me.

Source: Positive Parenting

At the time, my mother was able to take the time off from work.  Imagine those parents who do not have the option to do so?  Their child roams free in the streets (potentially) and enjoys the day off from school.  As a result, what is intended as a day of 'self reflection' for the student seems to be a day of relaxation -- quite the opposite effect.



What is the answer?  I wish that I knew.

Conclusion...

One possibility is that all of us work together to find one.  Regardless of whether you are a school official or a member of society, take part (interest) in each child's educational process.  How is that achieved?  That is still a question which is being answered.  Although, if you know of any children who are missing school or neglected due to discipline issues, get involved in improving their chances to attend school.