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News-Sentinel.com Your Town. Your Voice.
Opening Arguments

Please, please, please behave, OK?

I think it's about to be a lot of fun to be a screwup student in New York City but there are tough times ahead for serious students who might actually want to learn something. The school system is easing its discipline code so that smoking, cursing and cutting classes will no longer result in a suspension. This is just fine with "education law specialist" Nelson Mar, who says the adjustments will be a "great first step" in changing school culture.

“Often times when children are removed for disciplinary measures it has a negative impact on education, so they have a greater likelihood of actually failing their classes and also a greater likelihood of them dropping out,” Mar said.

Think there's going to be more smoking, cursing and cutting class in New York City schools? Class? Anyone? The biggest problem isn't necessarily any of the specific relaxations of discipline, but their announcement all together as a major change in policy. That sends a signal to students that the bar has been lowered, and they will pick up on that signal.

Oh, but "vandalism and physical altercations" in middle and high school will still warrant suspension, just in case you thought they had gone completely insane. Better get all of that foolishness out of your system before you leave elementary school, kids.

Comments

tim zank
Thu, 08/30/2012 - 8:53am

Just can't imagine why public schools get such a bad rap. With forward, progressive thinking like this what could possibly go wrong (er)?

 

If only there was more funding available...

 

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