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The Real School Safety Problem By Aron Kubchik

590 Words3 Pages

The readings and discussion on the differences between schools and prisons has again challenged my understanding of the purpose and function of schools. The Real School Safety Problem by Aron Kupchik, Kiera Wilmot's "School-to-Prison Pipeline" TedTalk, and the Spencer Foundation YouTube video on How out-of-school suspension impacts your future all shed light on how schools can become sites of punishment and incarceration, rather than education and growth.
In The Real School Safety Problem, Kupchik argues that the emphasis on school safety has led to increased surveillance and policing of students, which can lead to a prison-like atmosphere in schools. This shift towards punitive measures has resulted in the criminalization of minor offenses such as tardiness, dress code violations, and talking back, which can result in suspensions, expulsions, and even arrests due to zero-tolerance policies. As a result, students are being pushed out of schools and into the juvenile …show more content…

Wilmot shares her own experience of being arrested and expelled from school, and charged with felonies for a science experiment gone wrong, illustrating how zero-tolerance policies and punitive measures can have devastating consequences for students. Although no one was hurt, Wilmot was charged with two felonies and faced expulsion from school. What was particularly concerning about Wilmot's case is that neither her teacher, school, nor district supported her during this ordeal. This lack of support and understanding from those who were supposed to protect her and help her learn from her mistakes is a clear example of how schools can contribute to the school-to-prison pipeline. She argues that schools should prioritize education over punishment, provide more opportunities for restorative justice, and foster positive relationships between students and

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The school to prison hypothesis describes how black children enrolled in schools face racialization and discrimination constantly and it is based off the “zero tolerance” policy (T. Davidson, Education, 2018, lecture 5). This theory connects to the book because Maynard explains throughout chapter eight of how black school children are treated differently. They are more subject to punishments and are susceptible to harsher disciplines. Black students are often seen as a threat within the education system and are constantly over surveilled. The linkage between the educational and criminal justice system is strong.

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The book Burning Down the House: The End of Juvenile Prison, by Nell Bernstein is a compelling expose on the inherent evil of juvenile detention facilities. In her eye-opening account of the danger that lies within locking up this nation’s youth, Bernstein utilizes a plethora of rhetorical strategies to urge her audience to recognize and act on her claim. In writing this account on the heinousness of juvenile detention centers and why the system as a whole must be reformed, Bernstein uses personal cause and effect examples, studies and statistics, as well as concrete refutations to advocate the world for change. Bernstein starts her argument by providing readers with personal examples of the effects juvenile detention centers had on a handful of the kids she interviewed. Her first example briefly narrates how Jared, an adolescent many would

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Disproportionate discipline refers to the tendency of students who belongs to a particular demographic group, who are more prone to face harsher or more exclusionary discipline compared to students who belong to other demographic groups even when committing a comparable offense. Although this phenomenon has existed for centuries, activist groups like Black Lives Matter, a group that campaigns against violence and systemic racism toward black people, has recently shed light on this issue. That would be an ideal reason to select this book. However, I chose this book for a more personal reason. In Being Bad: My Baby Brother and the School-to-Prison Pipeline, the author, Crystal Laura tell the story of her younger brother, Chris, and his journey from systems of education to systems of criminal justice.

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In addition, Graham highlights the unfair and unjust educational system through disciplinary power that marginalized problematic students (2014). He did his research with inmates who were incarcerated at a young due to the school-to-prison pipeline structure. Many of the inmates explained that they were beaten by their instructors or fought with other students, which lead to those in power to punish the individuals through more violence (Graham 2014). For instance, “physical violence administered by teaching staff in the form of corporal punishment was a persistent feature” at school for many of the inmates (Graham 2014). This reveals that the inmates were physically beaten after breaking a school rule instead of receiving a suspension or typical disciplinary action.

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In Nancy Heitzeg article “Education or Incarnation: Zero Tolerance Polices And The School To Prison Pipeline” she argues that youth of color are especially at risk for being pushed out of the school system which pushes them onto the street and then into juvenile. Zero tolerance is severely punishing students for committing wrong doings no matter how big or minor they are. This is most certainly a race crime. I remember reading an article for my social work class that stated the United States has the highest incarceration rate. What is even more alarming is the fact the New York state builds future beds in Riker’s Island and in upstate prisons depending on how many African Americans are born today.

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McCarter describes thoroughly the consequences STPP has on the nation’s school-age youth, including but not limited to increased exposure the criminal justice system, and gives solutions that schools can implement that will hopefully limit the overwhelming amount of students coming in contact with the STPP. The article proves that zero tolerance policies are not conducive to a safe school environment and does not foster a safe learning climate for

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The public school to prison pipeline was examined in the literature review through zero-tolerance policies and the effects it has played on graduation rates. Zero-tolerance policies have dramatically increased students being recommended to the court system according to the literature review. The literature review has shown a need for school districts to examine zero-tolerance policies and the negative effects that it has caused on students. Fran Silverman (2005) discusses students being punished under zero-tolerance and says, “The students were disciplined under their school’s zero tolerance policy and some advocates are saying these codes of conduct have become so strict that schools are turning into criminal justice systems, or worse, jailhouses” (pg. 54).

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The school to prison pipeline is a term used to describe the increased presence of law enforcement in schools, the use of law enforcement or judicial system to deal with minor student misconduct, and the policy of Zero Tolerance policy criminalizing minor school rule infraction in schools in low socioeconomic areas (Cole,2017). After watching several videos like Unraveling Zero Tolerance, The school-to-prison pipeline, explained, and School to Prison Pipeline, reading online news article like The school to prison pipeline, explained, Fact Sheet: How Bad Is the School-to-Prison Pipeline?, and movies like Lean On Me, Moonlight, Freedom Writers, Stand and Deliver, Dangerous Minds and 187, I recognize that the school to prison pipeline is a major issue. The topic is relayed in four ways in writing, charts, graphs and verbally. In all the aforementioned movies, troubled schools and minorities are a familiar subject.

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Other districts signed memorandums of understanding to keep minor offenders out of court. More recently teachers have been getting training on cultural awareness and diversity (Flannery). The “Superpredator” Myth led School-to-Prison Pipeline to become very influential to the beliefs of individuals living in the US which led to a number of negative impacts in schools including zero-tolerance policies, the additional presence of police officers, arrests, and

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In Principal Nadia Lopez’s TED Talk, “Why Open a School? To Close a Prison” the viewer receives insight of the goals of the school located in Brownsville, Brooklyn, New York. The location of the school is in an underprivileged and dangerous neighborhood. Lopez explained that by providing the neighborhood’s indigent children with a proper education, they will be inspired to aspire to a better future. Nadia Lopez stated, “Tomorrow's future is sitting in our classrooms.”

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Charlotte J. Patterson’s article Making Schools Safe for All Students: Patterson’s article mainly dealt with the issues many LGBT youths have to go through on a day-to-day basis and how we as educators can make schools safer for not only the LGBT youths, but also for all students. Although I am not LGBT, I know many people who are and I can feel for them. I understand that this an ongoing issue that will eventually affect my classroom when I am a teacher. When I was in high school a few years ago, I remember having a friend who was gay, and at the time, and probably even now, our school did not really give support to the students who knew that they were LGBT or even the few that were questioning their sexuality. We did not live in the most progressive town, so he had to navigate that all alone.

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Zero tolerance refers to the concepts (policies) that govern the mode of punishment administered to the students for breaking a recognized law or rule within certain school premises. Nowadays schools enact and implement zero tolerance policies to minimize and prevent illegal behaviors (Nelson, Palonsky, & McCarthy, 2010). This paper seeks to evaluate the nature of and rationale for the zero tolerance policy of crime and victimization (1006.13) in the state of Florida. It will achieve this by describing the development and implementation of the concept in both public and private schools within the state.

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Children' brain are not fully developed yet. Thus, they do not realize the risks and consequences of their action. School-to-prison pipeline is arresting children for violating school rules. Statistic show drop out students are likely in jail for many reasons. Society need to focus more on education and spend less on prison, which can save thousands of taxpayers’ money.

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It remains to be seen if zero tolerance policies nationwide will be relaxed or replaced with a more lenient and rehabilitation-oriented approach; perhaps the recent "thaw" will lead into another freeze. Lawmakers and administrators should, however, keep in mind that a school system that has too much in common with jail may end up producing students who are all too ready to become

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There are cases where school officials are not doing their jobs. Bullying continues to be a problem in schools and so does violence. U.S. schools must improve the security and the safety of their students and staff. Drugs are still a problem in school. According to E. Fitzgerald, studies show that children still do drugs, or know someone who does drugs in schools.

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