Without assistance from the district, schools are curbing the use of suspensions without any alternative system in place, which means they merely adopt the label "restorative," stranding educators without the training and resources necessary to make the shift successful.
I've participated in mediations with students who were disruptive in my class and sent them a clear message: You are a valued member of our classroom community, and I will never push you out. But we need to work together to help you be your best self.
This was a powerful experience not only because it strengthened my relationship with the student, but because it also kept the discipline in my hands. In more punitive systems, teachers often remove a student from class and send them to the principal's office, shifting the responsibility of managing classroom behavior to administrators.
To read more of Melissa Dorcemus' article, please click here.
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