We all have stories from our own school experiences. Teachers we liked, others we disliked. Someone who we will remember always. Bullies. Best friends forever. Times when we made mistakes we regretted - whether caught or not. Things we appreciated, others we wished were different. But, one thing has surely changed - that is how our schools respond to discipline issues. Way back in my day misbehavior led to a dreaded trip to the principal's office, or detention, or worse, our parents were called. But today it can lead to a criminal record. Sure, some behaviors have changed with the times, but kids have not at the most basic level. They still want to be accepted by friends, and to feel competent.
This article in the NY Times, Seeing the Toll, Schools Revise Zero Tolerance, highlights something I believe essential to attend to. That is, when we select a strategy to solve a problem, we need to look at the larger implications of such strategies. As with any problem-solving approach, one step must be a cost/benefit analysis of alternatives. The alternative of using the justice system to solve school misbehavior completely misses the point. Such a strategy creates an easy "out" for a teacher, coach or principal to simply shift the problem to somewhere else. In doing so, the problem is placed in the hands of well-meaning individuals who have the least available resources to actually solve the problem.
The most powerful resource to manage a youth problem is an effective parent. They have a bond with the youth, and have a vested interest in how the youth turns out. They can manage the youth's environment to link appropriate behavior with privileges, and poor behavior to negative consequences. It's already part of their job, so we do not have to create another system or pay employees salaries or benefits. But, some parents need help or assistance. They may lack skills or have many barriers that inhibit their efforts. Solve those problems first, and the parent will be the most cost effective solution. Encourage, don't blame. Understand, don't criticize. Help them become involved in their child's life in a meaningful way, don't exclude them.
Otherwise, we are destined to end up just like the Broward County School system. Creating a bigger problem than the one we aimed to solve in the first place. Broward is now getting smarter, shouldn't all communities follow suit.
