It’s a series of policies that emphasize punishing children more than educating them. These policies took hold in the last 15 years – many a well-meaning response to school shootings like Columbine and “tough on crime” rhetoric around the country.
These policies have led, however, to the increased presence of police in schools; higher rates of suspensions, expulsions, and dropouts; and a jump in the number of students pulled out of schools and funneled into the juvenile and criminal justice systems. Of dire consequence is the practice of criminalizing nonviolent behavior formerly handled by school administrators, like disrupting or skipping class, arriving late, or writing on school property. MORE »« LESS
A few stories to illustrate the problem…
In some cases, students are actually arrested. In others, they’re issued tickets with fines up to $500. These are criminal citations. They prematurely, unnecessarily entangle youth in the juvenile justice system. They turn students off of school.
Ticketing increases the chances a regular kid will become a “problem kid.” It creates animosity between students and school staff. It turns what used to be after-school detention or a trip to the principal’s office into a criminal record that can hurt a student’s chances of gaining employment or admission to college.
Pushing students into disciplinary “alternative” schools often only speeds up their entry into the juvenile justice system. Students of color and students with special education needs are disproportionately punished and sent to alternative schools with few resources. Often, these students are denied the right to an adequate education and abandoned.
During the 2008-2009 Texas school year, 8,202 students were expelled. Approximately 100,000 students were sent to a disciplinary alternative education program. Texas A&M’s School of Government estimates dropouts from the 2012 class will cost the state $6 billion to $11 billion over their lifetimes.
The school-to-prison pipeline costs our children their futures. It costs our country an educated and motivated workforce. It costs our families their hope. It costs our communities tens of thousands of children who begin to believe they are criminals rather than future college students, career professionals, dreamers, people with something to give back to their communities.
It’s not too late to save our schools and give all students – including students of color and special education students – a shot at a decent education, and a future.
Educate yourself, and take action.
