Punish students… by letting them out of school?

Punish students… by letting them out of school?

Once again, Ralph, this is right up your alley and a topic you should have fun arguing with me over.

You being a former educator and your wife currently teaching in our local public schools I imagine you are more knowledgeable that I but let me throw my two-cent opinion in on current criticism over the policy on student punishments.

Let’s face it, Ralph, this antiquated practice of in-and out-of-school suspensions only exacerbates academic problems for problematic students who are struggling to learn for various reasons.

While I am sure you know more about what is going on in Crittenden County’s public schools that I when it comes to disciplinary action I found it shocking to learn that there were 109,133 in-school suspensions and 543,091 out-of-school suspensions, making up 69 percent of disciplinary sanctions levied in the state that has 478,318 public school students.

What was also interesting is the fact that 15,453 students were subjected to corporal punishment, or paddling, which made up 6 percent of disciplinary actions in Arkansas.

I bet you also didn’t know that Arkansas is just one of 19 states in the nation that permits the use of corporal punishment in public schools. You did mention that there is a local policy that includes assignment of students to alternative learning environments which, to me, far outweighs the antiquated policy of sending these students out the door and not learning a darn thing but ways to get into more trouble.

You know as well as I do, Ralph, that statistics will clearly show students with disciplinary issues and who are put on suspension are highly likely to drop out of school altogether, associate themselves with drugs, commit crime and often times wind up in a juvenile detention facility.

Now here is where we may differ and that is the use of corporal punishment which is something that should remain as an option. You know the modern- day proverb “spare the rod, spoil the child don’t you?”

If a parent refuses to discipline an unruly child, the child will grow accustomed to getting his own way. He will become, in the common vernacular, a spoiled brat.

The saying comes from Proverbs 13:24, “He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.” Listen Ralph, when a child does not feel the consequences of his sin, he will not understand that sin requires punishment.

Sadly Ralph, there is a recommendation to eliminate corporal punishment in schools and be replaced with what is being described as Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support system. This kinder and gentler way allows students to take responsibility and make amends for their actions. It is also suggested using so-called “calming practices” such as yoga and breathing exercises. Now come on Ralph, this is about to make me bust out laughing it is so ridiculous. You mean to suggest a kid who has bullied, beaten up fellow students, been disrespectful to a teacher or who refuses to obey school authorities should be given “time out” and told to do yoga and use breathing exercises is an effective way of addressing a serious school issue.

It is no wonder we have the problem we do with this younger generation in our public schools.

By Michael Coulter