In the absence of zero tolerance, Wake County's new student discipline policy will rely on principals making case-by-case judgments in the future.
As noted in today's article, principals will consider aggravating factors when making some suspensions longer and mitigating factors when making some suspensions shorter. The next few months are supposed to give time for principal feedback and to provide training of the new rules.
School administrators gave examples yesterday of how the aggravating and mitigating factors might be considered by principals.
For instance, Superintendent Donna Hargens cited how a student could hack into the computer system and cause personal info of students to become available. She said that could be the kind of aggravating factors that would turn a short-term suspension into a long-term one.
In terms of mitigating factors, Hargens said distribution of drugs is automatically a long-term suspension right now. But she said a principal could in the future consider mitigating factors to reduce the suspension such as whether the student was a minor player in the distribution, had no prior disciplinary record, or was pressured by others.
Hargens said they'll develop a matrix to try to have consistent suspension lengths across schools.
Comments
I think WCPSS now wants to
Thu, 09/09/2010 - 08:58 — red_balloonI think WCPSS now wants to make a distinction based on the size and sophistication of the cartel, the student's position in the organizational structure, etc. What's next? Expected profits? Purity of the drug? Mountains of research on the effects of the drug?
I can understand the need to keep indisciplined students in school but I fear WCPSS may be going from one extreme to another. Relaxing a zero tolerance policy without commensurate safeguards puts students, staff, and academic achievement in peril.
Wish she had come up with better examples...
Wed, 09/08/2010 - 10:58 — Bob_SconceI don't care if a kid is a "minor player" in a drug deal. Drugs don't belong in school and that should be a long-term suspension -- I don't care if you were a minor player and it was the first time you were caught.
Instead of her examples, she should have included "the nature of the drug -- was it Tylenol or Crack?"
Advil/Tylenol
Wed, 09/08/2010 - 07:07 — duvalSome drugs that are being passed out are over the counter headache/cramps remedies. Students don't think of them as "drugs" because they are legal and "everyone" takes them.
I have had a talk with my kids about not sharing/taking any meds. from friends as this could get them a long term suspension. This is a byproduct of the strict policy that was not thought through.
Drug Dealer
Wed, 09/08/2010 - 06:29 — HereWeGoGreat, lets keep the drug dealers in school. That should help create a great learning environment and example for other studetns.
If you are the student who is the victim what message does it send when the offending student is left in school for you to deal with?
That would be terribly
Thu, 09/09/2010 - 08:46 — red_balloonThat would be terribly wrong. Regardless of whatever fits the NC Legal Aid throws over the rights of perpetrators, certain indisciplined students need to be shipped to the alternative school. Leaving such a student in the regular school sends out an incorrect message both to victims and perpetrators.
What alternative school?
Thu, 09/09/2010 - 20:03 — klanders65What alternative school?
http://www.wcpss.net/school-d
Thu, 09/09/2010 - 20:12 — AngelaWhttp://www.wcpss.net/school-directory/special.html
Exactly, and this is why it
Wed, 09/08/2010 - 07:54 — willynillyExactly, and this is why it is so difficult to deal with these issues. What student will say anything against a student for anything the other student does to them? They KNOW that admin will do nothing. Cases in point:
When I taught at Centennial Campus we had a bomb threat phoned in. As we stood outside students were not really controlled. They went off in different groups. I tried to keep my students together, but since no one else was directing their students I had little control. I saw a group of about 5 male students in a spot and just happened to be looking when one of the students in the group threw a rock towards another group. When I brought that group of boys to an AP I was treated as if I was "buggin" him.
Just this week a student was moved from the other academic team to mine. The reason? Last week this boy put hand sanitizer into the drink of the math teacher on the other academic team. She drank the drink until the end of class when a student handed her a note warning her. Doctors routinely warn that this product can act with certain medications. This teacher suffers from Lupus. This boy is still here at my school.
There is a move across the state to allow students to remain in classes regardless of their behavior. As I posted earlier......it is no longer disrespect, it is a student "voicing their opinion." However, let a teacher become frustrated and tell a studnet to sit down or shut up and the teacher gets called on the carpet. Never mind that a student has been told 10 or 12 times to sit down and be quiet. PARENTS: be warned that your child will not get a very good education in this environment. First, teachers will be very apprehensive about discipling or redirecting any student. Second, this behavior will disrupt any train of thought or lesson. And Third (and most important) good teachers are packing their bags and leaving the profession to young and inepxrienced teachers who simply do as they are told by people who have no idea what works and what does not. Take Charge now or settle for what you have!
Seriously Willy, we don't
Thu, 09/09/2010 - 08:43 — red_balloonSeriously Willy, we don't care about these distractions in WCPSS. Some of us have these school-within-a-school retreats where such unruly elements don't mix with us. We get to focus on our education. Let the suburbs worry about giving these unruly bused kids a first class education. After all, there are mountains of research showing that an equitable distribution of invectives, drugs, and teenage pregnancies across the county helps academic achievement.
LOL Love it! I want to
Thu, 09/09/2010 - 22:03 — willynillyLOL Love it! I want to teach at that school.