Discipline in our Schools

A few days ago, our local paper “The Daily Fishwrap” ran a front page article about black students being suspended from school. The “investigative journalist” used data from the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, a non-profit located in Durham. According to their recent study, black students are disproportionately disciplined and even suspended from school. according to the study, blacks 7 times more likely to receive short term suspensions than white students.

Of course, according to this non-profit, racism is the reason. Teachers and administrators do not understand the black culture, even though 38% of these teachers are black. If you are not black, then you cannot understand their background and thus the students responses.

Keep in mind, that over the last 10-15 years district discipline rules and policies have been re-written to account for minorities. Teachers have received mandatory training on the policies. I am an educator. I was married to a high school teacher, I have known many teachers ((friends, neighbors, family members, etc.) They will tell you that often the black students cause trouble in the classroom. And- more importantly, black students are allowed much latitude; second, third and even four chances before being disciplined. Teachers are extra sensitive to the “race card”.

The non- profit claims that more law enforcement is in schools with students of color or low incomes, so these students are exposed to law enforcement and thus get “referred” to law enforcement more frequently. The loon reporter that wrote the story should do much her job. She should investigate these claims. And-she should write a balanced piece.

These experts claim that black students are being targeted, and vilified for “being themselves”. I say that is complete nonsense and dishonest. I say install video equipment in these classrooms and watch the behavior of disruptive students. Watch for yourselves what teachers have to deal with.

Is it possible that black students disproportionately misbehave? Can all these suspensions be explained as racism? Let’s see the videos, let’s see more details. I ask the Southern Coalition for Social Justice how much effort and money they have spent teaching black students and their families how to behave in school.