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Use
of School Suspension: Should Business Care? Corporations are playing an increasing role in the public schools, wanting to be viewed as good corporate citizens. Contributing to community welfare through the schools is seen by many business leaders as a good practice. It assures the development of competent future workers as well as consumers of their products and services. While it stands to reason that business would want to support students who excel in their studies, it appears unlikely that corporate funding would be directed towards disruptive and failing young people. Why should business care if schools are suspending students who don't cooperate and are the cause of problems in the classroom? An answer to this question comes from the AFL-CIO, which believes that a solid public education is essential to providing all students with the opportunity for better jobs at better wages. AFL-CIO leaders recognize that the young person who struggles in the school or home environment needs help, not being put out on the street where no possible rehabilitation can take place. Teachers agree, indicating that suspension should not be a disciplinary measure and that alternatives need to be found. Alaska middle school teacher Dan Walker calls suspension "the most overused discipline system. "Kids who are prone to rebel or be violent are usually victims of violence or neglect. We need to keep them in schools as much as possible. Booting them is a cry of defeat, so the challenge is how do we keep them here, safe and safe for others." He advocates productive hands-on work within schools. "I'd like to see a school where students all had jobs to do in the school: cleaning, cooking, maintenance, and office work. Try selling that!" Nancy Flanagan, another teacher, also argues for sharing the tasks of educating. "We don't have rites of passage. We don't have vision quests. We don't put these kids in the military, or on farms or work camps, or into hospitals, where there is real work for them to do. I believe we need an entire tier of non-school experiences for kids." Work-Study Programs have been used by college students for many years, and some receive federal funding to enable them to learn while developing work skills. Students at the High School level might benefit from a similar project. While some students don't function well in the school setting, they may be handling the demands of a part time job adequately. The clear rewards that come from a paycheck at the end of the week will frequently motivate a struggling student to control behavior that is disruptive in other settings. Corporations across the country offer after school jobs to high achievers; they might also benefit the community and the schools by targeting students who risk suspension because of unacceptable behavior. Local school boards, teachers, parents and business need to put their heads together and pilot programs that give troubled students a chance to reconnect to school as they see the benefits of skills which are transferable to the workplace. All members of the business and educational communities, along with families and students, can reap the rewards that such a program could provide. SOURCES:
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