Take a Positive, Personal Approach to Discipline

With the number of students missing at least a day of school due to suspensions or expulsions now double what it was in the 1970s, and suspensions a predictor of dropping out, how can we expect to resolve the dropout crisis?

This spike in exclusionary discipline raises a fundamental question of fairness. Students of color are far likelier than white students to be disciplined with exclusionary measures that take them out of regular public school. And, while white students are disproportionately likely to be punished for objective violations like smoking, students of color are far more likely to be disciplined for subjective offenses such as disrespect, making one wonder if we can close the so-called...

This article is available to subscribers only.

To keep reading this article and more, subscribe now or start a 2-week FREE trial.

Already have an account? Please login.


Subscribe to Education Week

You Save 20% or More!

Premium Online + Print


20 issues + Online Access
$39

You Save 20%

SUBSCRIBE NOW

(See details.)

Premium Online


6 Months Online Access
$29

You Save 22%

SUBSCRIBE NOW

(See details.)


Most Popular Stories

Viewed

Emailed

Recommended

Commented