Take a position. Do you agree or disagree that an emphasis on discipline and a zero tolerance approach in schools with a large minority or disadvantaged population creates a school-to-prison pipeline?
First, title your initial post either “An emphasis on discipline / zero tolerance in schools with large minority or disadvantaged populations DOES create a school-to-prison pipeline” or “An emphasis on discipline / zero tolerance in schools with large minority or disadvantaged populations DOES NOT create a school-to-prison pipeline.”
Then, make your case. Does this pipeline exist? Is there a disproportionate number of minority or disadvantaged juveniles in the juvenile justice system? Consider “the disproportionality of juveniles from disadvantaged backgrounds becoming incarcerated because of harsh school or local policies” (Peak). What do you think causes this? If you don’t think it is caused by strict school policies, why does this seem to be the case on the surface? What can be done to minimize the pipeline or the appearance of a pipeline? Beyond strong discipline and zero tolerance, what other approaches should schools take to ensure safety and discipline?
In your responses to your peers, consider the alternatives they propose. Do they seem achievable? What gaps do you see? Do you have any ideas that could expand on their initial proposal?
respond to student 1
Good evening, everyone,
I believe that schools with large minority or disadvantaged populations and a zero-tolerance policy create a school-to-prison pipeline. These schools often have lower test scores for students as well. A zero-tolerance policy leads to more suspensions, which makes it harder for students to keep up with their studies. Their grades then fall. Authority figures mistakenly believe that zero-tolerance policy schools are safer, which is rarely the case. The students don’t trust authority figures or other students and this leads to greater fear in the schools.
A study conducted by the American Psychological Association Zero Tolerance Task Force confirmed that what people believe should occur in schools with these policies, the opposite occurs. One misconception is that “the swift and certain punishments of zero tolerance have a deterrent effect upon students, thus improving overall student behavior and discipline.” This is not the case. As mentioned above, the increased suspensions predict higher rates of misbehavior and suspension among those students that are suspended.
Sadly, there are many schools today that continue to use this policy. During 2021-2022, 62% of the schools had zero-tolerance policies or strict penalties for those who broke the rules. (Perera, et al, January 2023). These types of schools are mostly middle and high schools. These schools with more black students than white students were more likely to institute zero-tolerance policies. Over 82% of black schools have the policy as opposed to 68% of white schools. (Perera, et al, January 2023).
While we need structure in our schools and parents want to know that their children are safe when they go to school, there are other ways to keep students in line than instituting zero-tolerance policies. By having children be more involved in what goes on in their school and how they learn, they feel empowered and will be less likely to misbehave. If an environment is created where they enjoy learning and their thoughts and ideas are listened to, they will want to attend school every day and not be suspended.
Are zero tolerance policies effective in the schools?. American Psychological Association. (2008, December). https://www.apa.org/pubs/reports/zero-tolerance.pdf
Perera, R. M., Jon Valant, F. D., Sorensen, L., & Bryan Cook, K. D. (2024, October 14). Survey: Understanding how U.S. Public Schools Approach School Discipline. Brookings. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/survey-understanding-how-us-public-schools-approach-school-discipline/#:~:text=Zero%2Dtolerance%20policies%20remain%20prevalent%2C%20but%20only%20for%20the%20most,year%20(see%20Figure%201)
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Respond to Student 2
An emphasis on discipline / zero tolerance in schools with large minority or disadvantaged populations DOES NOT create a school-to-prison pipeline
I believe the schools do not create a school-to-prison pipeline. A juvenile spends much of their time between school, home, and friends’ houses. During the breaks, they aren’t at school at all.
I believe that your home life has a large impact on how you act. The school has nothing to do with the home life. As they can try their best to help a student they can’t help the parent’s behavior. Your parents are supposed to teach you the right and wrong. If the juvenile sees their parents’ committing crimes, they are more likely to follow for example…. My husband’s aunt was charged with Stealing multiple times when she was younger. (She had her first son at 16.) Her son is now in prison. He saw his mother committing crimes and thought that it was ok. As she has had a lot of reform over the years she has seen her siblings and parents doing illegal activity and thought that it was ok. The schools try their hardest to punish bad behavior. They have many tactics they can use. Including In-school suspension, out-of-school suspension, and detention, they can also call the parents in to try to stop bad behavior before it starts.
Overall, I believe the school is not at fault for the school-to-prison pipeline. It doesn’t matter who you are, they try to stop bad behavior before it starts.
lessThe paper is already written I need to respond to student 1 and student 2.