Backing Away From Zero Tolerance

CAT Tracks Editor's Note:

Actually, there's nothing really to dispute about this editorial.

"Zero Tolerance" suspensions for minor infractions like chewing gum, tardiness, failure to turn in homework, et al are wrong...

...but, students who respond inappropriately to teacher efforts to resolve those issues with cursing, throwing books, turning over furniture, etc need to be removed from the classroom immediately...

...for a time period to be determined at the end of the day, when the student has an opportunity to calm down and the teacher has an opportunity to provide input.

Under no circumstances should the student be allowed to make "a triumphant return" during the same class period in which the infraction occurred.

Another no-no that principals/deans tend to use when the superintendent, the school board, or the outside "powers-that-be" bitch about high suspension rates: "Handle it yourself!" Principals will even accuse the teacher for being "weak" if s/he dares send an unruly student to the office. Hell, at good ol' CHS, we had principals/deans who would "keep score" and threaten teachers with a bad evaluation and/or dismissal if they sent too many students to the office.

Needless to say, just as with the now popular teacher evaluation based upon high-stakes testing, it takes a strong-willed teacher to do what's needed, what's right, and let the chips fall where they may. Nope, most teachers will simply start ignoring infractions, take more abuse, lose their love of teaching, and go through the motions...hoping to make it to retirement.

It's what is sometimes referred to as "teacher burn out"...

...for which the teacher, again, gets the blame.

As for the last line of the Times' editorial:

"But schools serving the highest-risk students clearly need more support services and training to help those children as well."

Yeah, right, tell that to Governor Rauner and the Illinois legislators as they cut more money from school budgets, forcing the elimination of those very support services...

...and the release of classroom teachers, with the resultant increase in class sizes that exacerbate existing discipline problems. (If you are an IEA member, you probably got a robocall from IEA President Cinda Clickna last night urging you to contact your state senator, to tell them to oppose cutting funding to schools, again, during this school year.)

And, hmmm...

...wonder what's going to happen to the almighty standardized test scores during all of this upheaval?

Oh, wait, that was the agenda all along...

...destroy public education...

...by any means necessary.

Or dare I say it...

...there's more than one way to skin a cat!

Bottom Line:

The behaving children have rights too!