Should we suspend out-of-school suspension?

NEA Today, Mar 2004

[YES]

The only way out-of-school suspension could be effective is if the school system could mandate that these students have to go to work with their parents or report to a community service detail.

Students at our school view out-of-school suspension as a vacation. Who wouldn't? They do not have to get up early, they do not have to listen to teachers lecture or require them to be awake.

Unless students are given a negative consequence for their behavior, out-of-school suspension reinforces it.

TRENA VlCK Special education teacher, Tallapoosa, Georgia

I teach students with severe emotional disturbances in grades four through eight. In my experience, out-of-school suspension provides students a way out. We have moved to having students stay in school, complete assignments, and do community service work for the behavior that led to their suspension.

Too many parents work or are not able to discipline their child at home if an out-of-school suspension is assigned, Our policy is to keep the student in school as much as possible. Generally, students who get suspended are the same students who have truancy issues.

MARY JENSEN Perham, Minnesota

If a student brings a gun to school, suspend them for three months. If a student threatens the life of another student or teacher, expulsion is called for.

But for all other offenses, including use or possession of drugs, there should be in-school suspension. Take away the students' freedom: lock them down with three-minute recess breaks for drink and toilet use, have them eat lunch in one room, no recess play privileges. Have them eat an hour later than the rest of the students when food might be a little cold and milk might be a little warm. Most suspended students have parents whom they can get around.

With in-school suspension, you keep control of the students. They know they have broken the rules and cannot get away. Students who are disruptive hate to be by themselves.

CARLO MARCHETTl Fourth-and fifth-grade special education teacher, Kihei, Hawaii

[NO]

I agree that for some children, out-of-school suspension is a bonus, but there are times when only that will do. Some situations can only be resolved by distancing the student from school and peers for a time. In a rural area where transportation is not readily available, this is hard for some students to bear even for one or two days. The time away to reflect on their behavior may help them acknowledge that they did make a mistake. If the parents or guardians treat the suspension as a punishment for the child, not just a day off, there is an added bonus.

Some students are concerned about the effect of suspension on their grades. I once had a student who was very dejected when he discovered that he would not be able to make up any work missed while he was suspended. He actually completed an extra project on his own to help his grade. Even good students sometimes make mistakes that warrant severe consequences.

JANlCE MCLAUGHLIN High SChOOl special education teacher, Gretna, Virginia

I believe the public school experience is a privilege. Students should conduct themselves in an appropriate manner. When they violate school rules and rules of common decency, the privilege should be taken from them.

Students who take a casual attitude toward suspension and attendance should find themselves making up lost days on weekends (possibly with their parents), mandatory summer school, and in extreme cases, retention.

all privileges carry responsibilities!

MlTCHELL LAWRENCE Middle school teacher, Ann Arbor, Michigan

We should not eliminate out-of-school suspension. In fact chronic discipline cases, male and female, should be given mandatory military service or jail if they continue to disrupt classrooms. judges in family court should have this alternative for the hard core, chronic discipline problems. It's time we took back control of our schools and got the chronic discipline problems into the military where they can learn something of value.

SKIP SHEPHARD High school special education teacher, Tucson, Arizona