I have been reading about the dramatic increases in suspensions as a response to schoolyard violence and unruly behaviour. A few months ago I wrote about the 900 British students reportedly suspended per day.
Today I noticed that more than 100 students in Australia are being suspended on a daily basis:
VIOLENT schoolyard attacks have marred the start of Term 4 as figures show more than 100 suspensions were handed out every school day last year for physical misconduct.
One student was stabbed in the head and four others bashed with a baseball bat in separate schoolyard incidents this week.
A 14-year-old girl was hospitalised at Tara, west of Dalby, on Wednesday after she was stabbed in the head allegedly by another student, 14, with a steak knife during a lunchtime scuffle.
Tara Shire State College went into lockdown shortly after 1.30pm and police were called.
A 14-year-old girl has been charged and will be dealt with under the Youth Justices Act. She has also been suspended. The injured student required stitches.
The question has to be asked: Are suspensions working?
In my day the threat of a suspension was extremely effective in moderating our behaviour. But with so many seemingly disregarding the inevitable consequences of violent or unruly behaviour, I am of the opinion that suspensions are not working. It seems an opportune time to consider an alternate form of action.
What has been your experience with suspensions? Do they work in your school?
Tags: Behaviour, Bullying, Dalby, Education, Education Policy, life, Parenting, Schools, Stabbing, Suspensions, Tara, Tara Shire State College, Teachers, Teaching, Violence
Topical Teaching 
October 8, 2011 at 11:25 pm |
Usually in Miami Dade suspensions were given until parent came in. It early stages of student rap sheet the intent was to involve the parent not suspend and the suspension would be cancelled upon parent conferences. However, in Miami’s large immigrant community, many parents would not cooperate. Usually out of disgust with child, fear of authority of government related agencies and immigration irregularities with family members. Suspensions did not modify behavior of repeat offenders so intent was not to effect change but to impress borderline kids that there4 were consequences of some sort. An offense such as an assault with a weapon is treated as non negotiable expulsion.
October 9, 2011 at 12:14 am |
Carl where you authorised to suspend students or was it left to your discretion?
October 10, 2011 at 11:52 pm |
I’m not sure if I can accurately assess the success of suspensions in my district: kids can be suspended for violent acts, but they can also be suspended for wearing hats in school, or listening to their iPods. When the line is blurred between violent acts and benign acts of defiance, and the level of punishment is the same, how are kids supposed to differentiate–or care about the differences–between the real outcomes of their actions?
October 11, 2011 at 12:35 am |
Excellent point Mike! Looking forward to seeing your film on bystanders.