Education policies

Zero Tolerance Policies in K-12 Schools: Examining the Pros and Cons

Matthew Lynch

Matthew Lynch

Zero tolerance is a popular term used to designate (and promote) school policies that address incidents of drug or weapon possession with automatic suspension or expulsion. A zero-tolerance system requires school officials to hand down specific, consistent, and harsh punishment—usually suspension or expulsion—when students break specific rules. The penalty applies regardless of the circumstances, the reasons for the behavior (like self-defense), or the student’s history of discipline problems. That’s why some critics call these policies “one strike, and you’re out.”

Let’s look at some of the pros and cons of zero tolerance policies in K-12 schools. By doing so, we hope to educate our readers on the true impact of this inequitable education policy.

Pros

May be required by law. In some instances, offenses like weapons possession, drug possession, aggravated assault, etc., must be met with harsh and swift punishment. These infractions constitute serious crimes, and the students involved may be a threat to others in their community. Schools must report infractions involving violence and drugs to the police, who, in turn, prosecute these students as juveniles. In many states, the aforementioned infractions require immediate expulsion, regardless of how the school district feels.

Aim to keep kids safer. The good thing about these policies is that they aim to keep students safe. By expelling students who cause physical harm to others or sell drugs on school property,  it is believed that the rest of the student body will be safer. In theory, this sounds good, but in practice, it is full of imperfections and inequity.

Prepares children for the real world. Do zero tolerance policies prepare students for the real world? Yes, if by the real world, you mean a world in which people of color are policed and disciplined at a higher rate than other citizens.

Cons

Involves favoritism. School districts across the U.S. extoll the virtue of equity and anti-racism, but in practice, the opposite is true. Children of color are more likely to be expelled or suspended from school than their white counterparts, even if they both commit the same infraction. Zero tolerance policies are applied more harshly to black and brown kids, again, even if they commit the same infraction.

Students banned from school face risks at home without supervision. When schools expel students, the vast majority of them end up a home unsupervised. Instead of being at school being educated, many are roaming their neighborhoods, with no adult guidance. I don’t think I have to explain to you what a recipe for disaster this is.

Physical altercations between kids are developmentally appropriate and not a sign of delinquency. I know it sounds crazy for someone to argue that aggression and physical altercations are developmentally appropriate, but they are. Because of this, it doesn’t seem fair to expel students for getting into a physical altercation. Remember, our student’s brains are still developing, and this doesn’t stop until they are in their 20s. If you mix the propensity for teenagers to make poor decisions, along with teenage emotions and hormones, physical and verbal altercations are bound to occur. Should we tolerate physical violence in our schools? No. However, instead of expelling students, we can teach them mindfulness techniques that help them deal with negative emotions.

What do you think? Do the pros of zero tolerance policies outweigh the cons? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.

Fuente: https://www.rethinkingschools.org/books/title/rethinking-ethnic-studies

Comparte este contenido:
Leer más »

What education policies did European countries prioritize for migration in 2017?

Informe GEM: Informe de Seguimiento de la Educación en el Mundo
by 
Resumen: La migración continúa siendo muy importante en la agenda política de los países de altos ingresos. Europa alberga el 30% de la población total de migrantes. El Informe Anual sobre Migración y Asilo 2017 , una herramienta de monitoreo que revisa la evolución de las políticas en 24 de los 28 países de la Unión Europea más Noruega, publicado el mes pasado por la Red Europea de Migraciones, lleva a los lectores a través de un menú familiar de procedimientos de asilo y controles fronterizos , reglas de reunificación familiar y regímenes de visa. Pero el informe también dedica un buen espacio a la educación, en el contexto de la «integración» de migrantes y refugiados, lo que sugiere que los Estados miembros de la UE se dan cuenta cada vez más de que lo que sucede en las aulas es clave para sus diversas sociedades, un mensaje que el informe 2019 GEM la migración y el desplazamiento, que saldrá de noviembre 20 º , se hará hincapié. Los países europeos consideran que la educación es importante para la «integración» de los migrantes . Las medidas para mejorar el nivel de educación de los migrantes y refugiados han incluido la obligatoriedad de la escuela o la formación profesional para todos los menores de 18 años en Austria , excepto aquellos con residencia temporal; o legislar medidas para dar la bienvenida a los alumnos inmigrantes recién llegados a las escuelas en Bélgica ; y diseminando información sobre el sistema educativo nacional en la República Checa . Muchos países asignaron prioridad a la mejora de las habilidades lingüísticas de los inmigrantes. En Estonia , se desarrolló una plataforma en línea para ayudar a aprender los cafés de idioma e idioma y se organizaron clubes de idioma y cultura en todo el país en 2017. Francia llevó a cabo cursos de idiomas en línea y asignó oportunidades de capacitación lingüística. Alemania duplicó los recursos para apoyar la educación diaria de idiomas en las guarderías infantiles y comenzó otro programa para facilitar el acceso a la educación y atención de la primera infancia para los niños que aún no se benefician de la atención infantil institucional. Luxemburgo introdujo la educación plurilingüe en la educación preescolar. Y los Países Bajos se enfocaron en cursos de idiomas de calidad garantizada a través de visitas de supervisión. Las cuestiones legales siguen siendo pertinentes, con un número creciente de grupos vulnerables que requieren protección, como los menores no acompañados, para los cuales casi todos los países introdujeron cambios en la legislación, la política o la práctica. En Noruega , una enmienda a la ley de educación estableció que los niños tendrán acceso a la educación primaria y secundaria inferior dentro de un mes. Pero estos son solo algunos ejemplos en un mosaico de intervenciones que van desde mejoras en el reconocimiento de las calificaciones ocupacionales o educativas de los migrantes y refugiados hasta el establecimiento de redes de escuelas de educación intercultural.

Migration continues to be very high on the political agenda of high income countries. Europe is home to 30% of the total population of migrants. The Annual Report on Migration and Asylum 2017, a monitoring tool that reviews policy developments in 24 out of 28 European Union countries plus Norway, which was published last month by the European Migration Network, takes readers through a familiar menu of asylum procedures, border controls, family reunification rules and visa regimes.

But the report also devotes good space to education, in the context of ‘integration’ of migrants and refugees, which suggests that EU Member States increasingly realize that what happens in classrooms is key for their diverse societies, a message that the 2019 GEM Report on migration and displacement, due out on November 20th, will emphasize.

European countries see education as important for ‘integrating’ migrants

Measures to improve the education attainment of migrants and refugees have included making school or vocational training compulsory for all those younger than 18 years old in Austria, except for those with temporary residence; or legislating measures welcoming newly arrived immigrant pupils into schools in Belgium; and disseminating information about the national education system in the Czech Republic.

Many countries assigned priority to enhancing migrants’ language skills. In Estonia, an online platform was developed to help learn the language and language cafés and language and culture clubs were organised all over the country in 2017. France carried out online language courses and mapped language training opportunities. Germanydoubled resources to support daily language education in day-care centres and started another programme to facilitate access to early childhood education and care for children who do not yet benefit from institutional child care. Luxembourg introduced pluri-lingual education in pre-schools. And the Netherlands focused on quality assuring language courses through supervisory visits.

Legal issues remain pertinent, with growing number of vulnerable groups that require protection, such as unaccompanied minors for which almost all countries introduced changes in legislation, policy or practice. In Norway, an amendment to the education act established that children shall have access to primary and lower secondary education within a month.

But these are only some examples in a patchwork of interventions that range from improvements in the recognition of occupational or educational qualifications of migrants and refugees to establishing intercultural education school networks.

Anthony UptonARETE.jpgFacilitating international student and researcher mobility takes up European governments’ interests

In addition to migration for work, migration for education is increasingly important, as European countries strive to strengthen their ability to attract global talent. Two in three countries adopted measures related to admitting and receiving foreign students and researchers. For example, Lithuania focused on increasing the limit of working hours, which is a factor that makes countries more attractive destinations for study. Likewise, students in Portugal were also granted more time to seek employment after graduation.

Other countries simplified the application process for international students. TheCzech Republic, for example, shortened the time for prospective students’ appointments for visa applications in embassies and consulates, while theNetherlands set up a Housing Hotline to respond to accommodation shortage challenges. Some countries took measures to attract students from specific third countries: Finland carried out promotion activities in countries via social media for instance and Slovakia granted scholarships specifically to Syrian refugees.

3What will it be like in 2018?

While these measures demonstrate the variety of approaches currently followed in Europe, they also suggest gaps and the fact that many of these measures are often not coordinated. By the end of the year, a report by the Eurydice unit will present more systematically policies aiming to integrate students with migrant background in European schools, which our report will place in the global context of voluntary and forced movements of people around the world. Education policy makers’ responses hold the key for making migration an opportunity rather than a challenge.

 

 

 

 

 

Fuente: https://gemreportunesco.wordpress.com/2018/06/22/what-education-policies-did-european-countries-prioritize-for-migration-in-2017/

Comparte este contenido:
Leer más »