News-Record.com

I hope Superintendent Terry Grier doesn't mind, but I borrowed this from his Friday Notes column. We're not the only school system struggling with discipline issues. Check out this article by the "Catalyst" which chronicles problems in the Chicago Public Schools at the elementary level.

Here's the synopsis from Friday Notes: Elementary schools are cracking down on discipline problems by suspending a record number of students, most of whom are African American. Between 1994 and 2003, the number of elementary students who were suspended has more than doubled. Schools say more resources and parental support are needed to handle unruly students. Teachers cite the problems of children born into gang culture, of retained students who are old for their grades and a lack of training in proper discipline techniques. The debate continues on whether suspensions do more harm than good, not only to the students but to the schools as well.

Read the rest of Friday Notes here.