Elementary schools have always been thought of as a more innocent part of our school system, but the issue raised in this article might suggest otherwise. Whether violence in elementary schools is increasing because of zero-tolerance policies or not, this is clearly an issue that should be looked at closely. If more and more kindergarteners and first and second graders are committing acts of violence in school against teachers or other students, these disciplinary problems should be addressed before it becomes too late. School should be a safe place to work and to learn, so I agree with the idea of suspending these students to get them out of the classroom, but if their home life is the problem a suspension won’t help the student’s situation at all. While suspending a student effectively grabs parental attention, it doesn’t effectively help the parents deal with their child’s behavior. If parental counseling were available in conjunction with the option of in-school suspension, there might be hope for behavioral improvement. I think that school counselors or principals who are dealing with the situation should immediately remove these students from the classroom environment and arrange a meeting with parents where they can discuss what might help their child better. A zero-tolerance policy should not be black and white, but be tailored to a student’s needs and situation at home. Even though a student might have behavioral problems, they still have a right to an education. It is our job as educators to ensure we can provide that to all of our students.
Toppo, G. (2003, January 12). School violence hits lower grades. USA Today.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2003-01-12-school-violence-usat_x.htm
