Start them young that certain rules don’t apply. MLK is turning in his grave.
Minneapolis public schools Superintendent Bernadeia Johnson has banned the suspension of the district’s youngest learners, a unilateral move aimed at keeping children in class and forcing teachers to dole out discipline in school.
“We should not be putting students out of school for behaviors that they do naturally at that age,” Johnson said. “When students are out of schools, they cannot learn.”
Johnson notified principals and teachers Thursday afternoon that prekindergarten, kindergarten and first-grade students cannot be suspended for nonviolent behavior. The change takes effect immediately.
Leaders with the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers said there are better options than deciding “by rote how a student will or will not be disciplined.” Rather than a blanket edict from the administration, the union continues to press for “counselors and mental health providers to be available in schools for students who may need them,” said Lynn Nordgren, the union’s president.
Minneapolis is among a growing number of districts across the country that are changing suspension practices in the face of new and intense scrutiny of student discipline. Critics argue that suspension data shows teachers overwhelmingly target — and harm — children of color or with mental health problems.[…]
In St. Paul, district officials gave principals financial incentives to reduce suspensions. That led to large drops in suspensions, but growing complaints from parents and teachers who say student behavior has worsened.[…]
The district has already been working with principals and teachers to create new behavior standards that establish clear definitions for what constitutes disruptive and disorderly behavior. Mildly unruly behavior should be redirected, and only the most extreme behavior, such as drug possession or assault, should lead to suspensions.