Schools

Report Finds Suspensions for Grammar School Students Are on The Rise

Opinions are divided on the merit, fairness and value of suspensions

According to a report by the New York Civil Liberties Union, suspensions for four- to 10-year-olds has increased by 76 percent since Mayor Bloomberg has taken over control of New York City public schools.

Under the mayor’s “zero tolerance” policy, a child can be suspended automatically if they are fighting in school.

However, NYCLU pointed out, this sort of frequent reliance on removing kids from school backfires and doesn't work as a deterrent.

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In fact, a report by the same agency released in January showed that special-needs students and black students were more likely than other kids to be kicked out of class.

But some educators feel that suspensions and removing kids from classrooms are a necessary disciplinary measure when no other alternatives work. 

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One high school principal from Bedford-Stuyvesant felt that suspensions were the only serious punitive measure available to keep classrooms running, and that an inability to remove a disruptive student from a classroom reinforces to all of the students that there will never be a consequence for bad behavior.

“It permits bad behavior and allows a handful of kids to hold and entire class hostage,” said the principal, who did not want to be named. “When a teacher cannot remove a disruptive child from a classroom, the teacher ends up focusing on the one who is misbehaving, and learning is interrupted for all of the other students.”

What do you think? Do you feel that suspensions are a necessary measure to maintain discipline and order in a classroom? Or do you feel that the number of suspensions for grammar school students is excessive and that alternative measures should be explored?

Tell us in the comments below.


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