School Suspensions Up, Parents Angry

We're having a tough time understanding the city's public school system right now. First they're all proud that graduation rates are up. Then it turns out that some of those graduating kids were actually delinquent, failing 21-year-olds. And now, according to the Daily News, school officials have issued 72,000 suspensions this past school year, up 40% since 2006. But then again, some of those suspensions could have been for things as dumb as bringing peppermint oil or LEGOs to school. What do you want us to feel, DOE?!

The city doled out about 52,000 suspensions in the 2005-06 school year, and parents are worried that the increase (especially since fewer students were enrolled this past year) could mean the students who need the education the most are left with no class time. Chris Tan of Advocates for Children said this is a "major crisis," and suggested making disruptive kids see a counselor instead of enforcing the harsh, "zero tolerance" policies. Parents agree. One mother of a 12-year-old boy suspended for 30 days for fighting said, "All it's doing is messing up the kid's record."

Education officials say their system works, noting a 7% decline in major crimes at schools this year. However, they are open to some changes. Education Department spokeswoman Natalie Ravitz said they're considering "giving principals the option of choosing to hold a parent conference for some infractions that once mandated suspension." Could that apply to sexting? Because we'd love to see what happens in one of those conferences.

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By Jaya Saxena in News on July 6, 2010 1:43 PM

Comments [rss]

ozik

"...could mean the students who need the education the most are left with no class time."

Uh, it probably means that the kids who get the most of school get MORE class time. The time spent dealing with difficult kids acting up in class is time spent baby-sitting, not teaching.

Education should not be mandatory, college should be free. Acting on those two ideas would fix a whole lotta problems.

DrGonzo

I don't blame school administrators completely for the over use of suspensions as punishment for any infractions, I blame the rules that give them the power to do so. Kids being suspended for things as petty as action figures that have guns or drawing guns. Not too long ago there were a rash of stories involving kids being arrested at school, with suspensions following most likely, for things like drawing on a desk. Also, most suspensions now are "In-School" meaning that the child shows up to school to sit in a room with nothing to do like so many teachers in the cities "Rubber Rooms." We need to decriminalize children acting like children.

Kojak

"making disruptive kids see a counselor"

If you would consider my leather belt to be a qualified counselor, then by all means. Some of these kids just need an ass whoopin. That'll set em straight.

As for suspensions, most kids you suspend don't really mind taking an extra day off class, even if it does go on their permanent record as they really don't give a shit about their record to begin with.

Splicer

How about parents act like parents and instruct their children about how to act instead of letting the schools do the job they themselves don't have time to do.

Petey

How many fights did this kid get into, or how bad did he beat up the other kid that he got a 30 day suspension for doing so? Back when I was in school you had to be a constant problem and getting into fights pretty often to even get a 1 day suspension.