I work in a “needs improvement” school. There are a lot of behavioral problems within the school. I am not one of those teachers who will write you up for every little thing. However, I will write you up if you decide you’re going to talk back to me or disrespect me. I would wager that 90% of my write ups are because of this. Many kids think it’s somehow OK to talk back to a teacher and not do as they are asked. That doesn’t sit well with me, and it shouldn’t sit well with anyone who cares an iota about education.
Our AYP status is affected by the number of students with suspensions, both in school and out. Lately, the discipline has been lacking on part of the administration. The bottom line: the more kids that are suspended, the less of a chance you have in passing AYP.
The kids aren’t getting much in the way or discipline and it’s encouraging the bad behavior and disrespect.
So, just so we’re clear here:
Kicking X number of kids out = not passing AYP because your school is seen as “dangerous” and the number of kids out on a daily basis hurts you.
Keeping these bad kids INSIDE the classroom each day = not passing AYP because the teacher is spending more time disciplining and “managing” than actually teaching.
So, tell me. How exactly are we supposed to pass AYP? And how is this supporting teachers?
My suggestion? Take the hit now and remove the bad seeds from the school. It’ll take 2-3 years, but eventually the culture in the school will change. If you drop the hammer on the kids, and send them to tribunal and expel them, it will send a message to the community that this type of behavior will no longer be tolerated.
Teachers need the full backing and support of the administration. And if the teachers are not getting supported, what are we supposed to do?
No child left behind? Of course not because all it is is pushing quotas and passing kids off who don’t deserved to be passed.
