Frank+Andrisani

 =School Suspensions: A Counterproductive Discipline for Misconduct? =



**• **  **TOPIC OVERVIEW ** Out of School Suspension is a mandatory leave of absence that serves as a punishment to students who misbehave and disobey schools school rules. Suspensions can span anywhere from one day to several weeks depending on the students degree of misconduct. While suspended, students must complete assigned class work and homework, and are prohibited from participating in daily classroom activities, extracurricular activities, and various other school functions. Traditionally, education systems have used suspensions as a means to deter students away from interrupting classroom activities and engaging in illegal and/or disorderly conduct. Typical behavior that calls for suspension includes students who bully other classmates, disrupt class time, or are caught engaging in illegal drug or alcohol use on (and sometimes off) school premises.

**• ** **PURPOSE OF WIKISPACE ** The purpose of this WIKIspace is to provide resources for educators arguing that the traditional practice of suspending students is proving to be counterproductive and an ineffective way of dealing with a students misbehavior. It is crucial for today's education systems to begin exploring and considering other alternatives when disciplining those students who partake in disorderly conduct and break school rules.

**• ** **THE REALITY //There is an unfortunate but obvious reality to school suspensions, listed below are a couple of the more common realities.// ** - The majority of students do not like school; being suspended is more or less an enjoyable experience for them. Rather than sit through long and "boring" class periods, students can relax at home, watch television, surf the internet, and complete assignments at their own disclosure. - When a school decides to suspend a student, parents are not always given enough notice (nor do they have the financial ability) to take a leave of absence from work or find an alternative means of supervision for their child.

 //**Resources**//

 ** ( 1. ) // __"Administrator's Complete School Discipline Guide: Techniques & Materials for Creating an Environment Where Kids Can Learn"__ By Robert D. Ramsey Ed.D. // ** Robert D. Ramsey's guide provides educators with information about effective discipline and various approaches in dealing with students behavioral problems today. In his book you will find an array of topics that include, which methods do not work today and why; how to establish programs and curriculums where students succeed; new approaches to traditional discipline issues, and more.


 * For more information about Ramsey's guide, please visit []

** ( 2. ) //__"Out of School Suspension: Are There Better Ways to Discipline Students?__ By Erin Crouse [] (Article, Associated Content)

In her article, Erin Crouse explores the practice of out-of-school suspensions and provides readers with the pros and cons of it's intended purpose. Although Crouse acknowledges some benefits of suspension, her article focuses more so on the countless downfalls and overseen shortcomings schools suspensions entail. Crouse suggests alternative means in which education systems can handle behavioral problems of their students. // **  ** ( 3. ) //Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports (PBiS) []

<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px;">Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports (PBiS) is an educational behavior system that emphasizes the prevention of behavioral problems with students through the development of relationships with their teachers. Within this system, students and educators receive positive reinforcement from families and community members for meeting certain academic and social requirements and expectations. The system aims at establishing a better relationship between students, their families, and their educational advisors. The structure of the PBiS systems enables students to organize their academic goals and develop self discipline; resulting in higher self esteem and an improved decision making thought process.

// ** //<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif; font-size: 120%;">** ( 4. ) ** **__"A Survey- The Negative Aspects of In and Out of School Suspensions and Alternative That Promote Academic Achievement"__ By William C. Flanagain. [] **

//// In his article, William C. Flanagain explores the various alternatives to school suspensions. Flanagain addresses three important issues regarding the practice of suspending students. These issues include, how suspension impacts the educational and personal/social characteristics of students; how much of an effect suspensions have on the academic performance of students; and whether or not there are any constructive and effective alternatives to suspension.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;"> <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;"> //**<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif; font-size: 110%;">// ( 5. ) __"School Suspension- Do they Work?"__ By Jamie Hulguin // // <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif; font-size: 110%;">[] <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif; font-size: 110%;"> //** <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; text-align: center;"> //<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 90%; text-align: center; display: block;">"Basically, they gave him a free ticket to watch cartoons all day" <span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia, serif; text-align: center; font-size: 99%; font-style: normal;"> //<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 90%; text-align: center; display: block;">-Sonya Russell, mother of suspended student. CBS evening news recently published an article that hit home to many parents who feel their children aren't grasping the long-term consequences of their behavioral misconduct. Author Jaime Hulguin addresses the reality that continually suspending students is only a short term solution to the problem; suspension will not change a child's behavior in the long-run if the worst possible outcome for them is spending a day at home watching television.

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