California Legislators Seek to Better Define ‘Defiance’

“Willful defiance” accounts for 40% student suspensions, but who defines “defiance”? Research has found that under this highly subjective category, students are sent out of school for anything from failing to turn in homework, not paying attention, refusing to follow directions to take off a coat or hat, or swearing in class. They can also ... Read More
 
SF Principal: Fixing Discipline Rules Is ‘Not a Far-Out Idea’

SF Principal: Fixing Discipline Rules Is ‘Not a Far-Out Idea’

The principal of Rosa Parks Elementary in San Francisco says moving away from harsh discipline is “not a far-out idea.” “I’m not hippie-dippie,” Principal Paul Jacobson told the San Francisco Chronicle. “It’s not that we’ve suddenly become lenient,” Jacobsen said of the new approach. “We just recognize we aren’t going to be able to punish ... Read More
 

What is FixSchoolDiscipline.org?

Welcome to FixSchoolDiscipline.org! We’re a website that’s exposing the alarming overuse of harsh discipline in California schools. Did you know California schools issued 2 million suspensions in the last three years alone? That’s almost 700,000 every year, in a state that has 6 million students. Research clearly shows that harsh approaches to misbehavior don’t keep ... Read More
 

California’s Top Judge: ‘Let’s Get to Work’ on School Discipline

California’s top judge has learned some “alarming statistics” about school discipline. As Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye told California legislators on March 19, “in the last three years, California school suspensions, self-reported, are over 2 million…. I see a looming problem out there. If we aren’t responsible for our youth, if we don’t return ... Read More