Maryland bill to exempt student punishment for threatening teachers and staff moves forward

[Anonymous]

How about ALL school districts' BOE advocating?

[Anonymous]

This bill doesn't exempt students from punishment for threatening teachers. It doesn't having anything to do with punishment in school, only with a single criminal charge that exists under the education code for willfully disturbing orderly conduct of school activities or molesting or threatening those present at the school (26-101 in the Maryland Education Code)


It also doesn't exempt them from criminal charges for threatening or assaulting staff or other students. Those are separate crimes that are (rightly) handled in the criminal code, not this part of the education code.

What this bill does do, is eliminate, for actions that happen in a student's own school, from the education code charge for disrupting school activities. If a student threatens a classmate or a teacher that's still a crime, just not THIS crime.

Given the very broad language of the statute, I think that's very reasonable. Willfully disturbing the orderly conduct of the classes can cover a huge range of behavior, most of which is properly the target of school discipline not criminal charges. The behavior that should be targeted by the criminal justice system (assault, harassment, threats) already is through other offenses.

An example of what is covered by 26-101 that made it to the Court of Special Appeals was for a student who refused to go to the principal's office and used profanity in the hallways, disrupting classes. That's absolutely something that should be punished by school discipline, but making it a criminal offense is ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Slightly better older article.

https://foxbaltimore.com/news/local/maryland-dems-want-to-drop-penalties-for-students-who-commit-certain-crimes-at-school-democrats-annapolis-md-project-baltimore-crisis-in-the-classroom-sheila-ruth-law-proposal-bill-

Obviously "put kids in jail" and "do nothing" are both bad options. I'm sure you wouldn't be happy if the police came to arrest your kids every time they talked back to you or slapped their sibling. So why is it OK in school?

We need sensible tools for classroom safety, including separating children who can't control their behavior, while still providing educational opportunity and showing respect.

How has that gone so far? My experience as a parent has been that MCPS tied the hands of teachers and administrators to deal with violent and predatory children, in the name of "ending the school to prison pipeline."

Detention and suspension were taken off the table, and SROs were removed from schools. In return, we were supposed to get increased mental health support, alternative placements, and actual tools for keeping classrooms safe.

None of those materialized. So now teachers and administrators have no tools at their disposal other than building a case strong enough to get kids moved to another school, which is bad for everyone.

We've given this approach a chance, and schools have become less safe as a result. Let's stop the insanity and give teachers and administrators a full set of tools to deal with violent kids in the classroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Slightly better older article.

https://foxbaltimore.com/news/local/maryland-dems-want-to-drop-penalties-for-students-who-commit-certain-crimes-at-school-democrats-annapolis-md-project-baltimore-crisis-in-the-classroom-sheila-ruth-law-proposal-bill-

Obviously "put kids in jail" and "do nothing" are both bad options. I'm sure you wouldn't be happy if the police came to arrest your kids every time they talked back to you or slapped their sibling. So why is it OK in school?

We need sensible tools for classroom safety, including separating children who can't control their behavior, while still providing educational opportunity and showing respect.

How has that gone so far? My experience as a parent has been that MCPS tied the hands of teachers and administrators to deal with violent and predatory children, in the name of "ending the school to prison pipeline."

Detention and suspension were taken off the table, and SROs were removed from schools. In return, we were supposed to get increased mental health support, alternative placements, and actual tools for keeping classrooms safe.

None of those materialized. So now teachers and administrators have no tools at their disposal other than building a case strong enough to get kids moved to another school, which is bad for everyone.

We've given this approach a chance, and schools have become less safe as a result. Let's stop the insanity and give teachers and administrators a full set of tools to deal with violent kids in the classroom.

SRO's were not removed from the school.

Kids are still disciplined.

You seem to be really out of touch of what is really going on.

What is missing, has been missing for 25 years is expulsion and making it easier for principals to send kids to alternate schools.

That is not new.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why anyone would support exempting kids who threaten the lives of others, especially authority figures who are on the front lines, from punishments. What is the rationale? Are we encouraging school shooters now?

Has your child ever threatened you or another child? Ever?

I'm sure you'll say "no, my golden child never does anything like that". But think about all your friends who aren't as good parents as you and their kids, who go on fortnite and yell threats at each other, or throw controllers at TV screens

the law actually is in line with all laws in the united states. there is a difference between a threat and a credible theat.

You can't just arrest someone for saying a threat unless they can carry it out.

Currently, when a threat is made, the school’s threat assessment team meets to determine whether the threat was credible. Law enforcement is not contacted unless the threat is deemed credible. Even then, law enforcement will make their own determination regarding credibility of the threat. Kids aren’t being hauled off to jail for run of the mill arguments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This bill doesn't exempt students from punishment for threatening teachers. It doesn't having anything to do with punishment in school, only with a single criminal charge that exists under the education code for willfully disturbing orderly conduct of school activities or molesting or threatening those present at the school (26-101 in the Maryland Education Code)


It also doesn't exempt them from criminal charges for threatening or assaulting staff or other students. Those are separate crimes that are (rightly) handled in the criminal code, not this part of the education code.

What this bill does do, is eliminate, for actions that happen in a student's own school, from the education code charge for disrupting school activities. If a student threatens a classmate or a teacher that's still a crime, just not THIS crime.

Given the very broad language of the statute, I think that's very reasonable. Willfully disturbing the orderly conduct of the classes can cover a huge range of behavior, most of which is properly the target of school discipline not criminal charges. The behavior that should be targeted by the criminal justice system (assault, harassment, threats) already is through other offenses.

An example of what is covered by 26-101 that made it to the Court of Special Appeals was for a student who refused to go to the principal's office and used profanity in the hallways, disrupting classes. That's absolutely something that should be punished by school discipline, but making it a criminal offense is ridiculous.

Your post seems very reasonable, but how are high schools supposed to resolve a situation where an adult sized student continues to be disruptive and will not go to the principal’s office?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Slightly better older article.

https://foxbaltimore.com/news/local/maryland-dems-want-to-drop-penalties-for-students-who-commit-certain-crimes-at-school-democrats-annapolis-md-project-baltimore-crisis-in-the-classroom-sheila-ruth-law-proposal-bill-

Obviously "put kids in jail" and "do nothing" are both bad options. I'm sure you wouldn't be happy if the police came to arrest your kids every time they talked back to you or slapped their sibling. So why is it OK in school?

We need sensible tools for classroom safety, including separating children who can't control their behavior, while still providing educational opportunity and showing respect.

How has that gone so far? My experience as a parent has been that MCPS tied the hands of teachers and administrators to deal with violent and predatory children, in the name of "ending the school to prison pipeline."

Detention and suspension were taken off the table, and SROs were removed from schools. In return, we were supposed to get increased mental health support, alternative placements, and actual tools for keeping classrooms safe.

None of those materialized. So now teachers and administrators have no tools at their disposal other than building a case strong enough to get kids moved to another school, which is bad for everyone.

We've given this approach a chance, and schools have become less safe as a result. Let's stop the insanity and give teachers and administrators a full set of tools to deal with violent kids in the classroom.

SRO's were not removed from the school.

Kids are still disciplined.

You seem to be really out of touch of what is really going on.

What is missing, has been missing for 25 years is expulsion and making it easier for principals to send kids to alternate schools.

That is not new.

Do you actually work in a school? I already know the answer.....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This bill doesn't exempt students from punishment for threatening teachers. It doesn't having anything to do with punishment in school, only with a single criminal charge that exists under the education code for willfully disturbing orderly conduct of school activities or molesting or threatening those present at the school (26-101 in the Maryland Education Code)


It also doesn't exempt them from criminal charges for threatening or assaulting staff or other students. Those are separate crimes that are (rightly) handled in the criminal code, not this part of the education code.

What this bill does do, is eliminate, for actions that happen in a student's own school, from the education code charge for disrupting school activities. If a student threatens a classmate or a teacher that's still a crime, just not THIS crime.

Given the very broad language of the statute, I think that's very reasonable. Willfully disturbing the orderly conduct of the classes can cover a huge range of behavior, most of which is properly the target of school discipline not criminal charges. The behavior that should be targeted by the criminal justice system (assault, harassment, threats) already is through other offenses.

An example of what is covered by 26-101 that made it to the Court of Special Appeals was for a student who refused to go to the principal's office and used profanity in the hallways, disrupting classes. That's absolutely something that should be punished by school discipline, but making it a criminal offense is ridiculous.

Your post seems very reasonable, but how are high schools supposed to resolve a situation where an adult sized student continues to be disruptive and will not go to the principal’s office?

A 26-101 charge isn't a tool in that situation either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Slightly better older article.

https://foxbaltimore.com/news/local/maryland-dems-want-to-drop-penalties-for-students-who-commit-certain-crimes-at-school-democrats-annapolis-md-project-baltimore-crisis-in-the-classroom-sheila-ruth-law-proposal-bill-

Obviously "put kids in jail" and "do nothing" are both bad options. I'm sure you wouldn't be happy if the police came to arrest your kids every time they talked back to you or slapped their sibling. So why is it OK in school?

We need sensible tools for classroom safety, including separating children who can't control their behavior, while still providing educational opportunity and showing respect.

How has that gone so far? My experience as a parent has been that MCPS tied the hands of teachers and administrators to deal with violent and predatory children, in the name of "ending the school to prison pipeline."

Detention and suspension were taken off the table, and SROs were removed from schools. In return, we were supposed to get increased mental health support, alternative placements, and actual tools for keeping classrooms safe.

None of those materialized. So now teachers and administrators have no tools at their disposal other than building a case strong enough to get kids moved to another school, which is bad for everyone.

We've given this approach a chance, and schools have become less safe as a result. Let's stop the insanity and give teachers and administrators a full set of tools to deal with violent kids in the classroom.

THIS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Slightly better older article.

https://foxbaltimore.com/news/local/maryland-dems-want-to-drop-penalties-for-students-who-commit-certain-crimes-at-school-democrats-annapolis-md-project-baltimore-crisis-in-the-classroom-sheila-ruth-law-proposal-bill-

Obviously "put kids in jail" and "do nothing" are both bad options. I'm sure you wouldn't be happy if the police came to arrest your kids every time they talked back to you or slapped their sibling. So why is it OK in school?

We need sensible tools for classroom safety, including separating children who can't control their behavior, while still providing educational opportunity and showing respect.

How has that gone so far? My experience as a parent has been that MCPS tied the hands of teachers and administrators to deal with violent and predatory children, in the name of "ending the school to prison pipeline."

Detention and suspension were taken off the table, and SROs were removed from schools. In return, we were supposed to get increased mental health support, alternative placements, and actual tools for keeping classrooms safe.

None of those materialized. So now teachers and administrators have no tools at their disposal other than building a case strong enough to get kids moved to another school, which is bad for everyone.

We've given this approach a chance, and schools have become less safe as a result. Let's stop the insanity and give teachers and administrators a full set of tools to deal with violent kids in the classroom.

SRO's were not removed from the school.

Kids are still disciplined.

You seem to be really out of touch of what is really going on.

What is missing, has been missing for 25 years is expulsion and making it easier for principals to send kids to alternate schools.

That is not new.

Stop using real facts to shed light on my far right lie riddled narrative!

[Anonymous]

quote=Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Slightly better older article.

https://foxbaltimore.com/news/local/maryland-dems-want-to-drop-penalties-for-students-who-commit-certain-crimes-at-school-democrats-annapolis-md-project-baltimore-crisis-in-the-classroom-sheila-ruth-law-proposal-bill-

Obviously "put kids in jail" and "do nothing" are both bad options. I'm sure you wouldn't be happy if the police came to arrest your kids every time they talked back to you or slapped their sibling. So why is it OK in school?

We need sensible tools for classroom safety, including separating children who can't control their behavior, while still providing educational opportunity and showing respect.

How has that gone so far? My experience as a parent has been that MCPS tied the hands of teachers and administrators to deal with violent and predatory children, in the name of "ending the school to prison pipeline."

Detention and suspension were taken off the table, and SROs were removed from schools. In return, we were supposed to get increased mental health support, alternative placements, and actual tools for keeping classrooms safe.

None of those materialized. So now teachers and administrators have no tools at their disposal other than building a case strong enough to get kids moved to another school, which is bad for everyone.

We've given this approach a chance, and schools have become less safe as a result. Let's stop the insanity and give teachers and administrators a full set of tools to deal with violent kids in the classroom.



THIS IS MISLEADING & FALSE

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How about ALL school districts' BOE advocating?

Knowing MCPS's BOE, I bet they'd actually support this bill in the name of equity/antiracism....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This bill doesn't exempt students from punishment for threatening teachers. It doesn't having anything to do with punishment in school, only with a single criminal charge that exists under the education code for willfully disturbing orderly conduct of school activities or molesting or threatening those present at the school (26-101 in the Maryland Education Code)


It also doesn't exempt them from criminal charges for threatening or assaulting staff or other students. Those are separate crimes that are (rightly) handled in the criminal code, not this part of the education code.

What this bill does do, is eliminate, for actions that happen in a student's own school, from the education code charge for disrupting school activities. If a student threatens a classmate or a teacher that's still a crime, just not THIS crime.

Given the very broad language of the statute, I think that's very reasonable. Willfully disturbing the orderly conduct of the classes can cover a huge range of behavior, most of which is properly the target of school discipline not criminal charges. The behavior that should be targeted by the criminal justice system (assault, harassment, threats) already is through other offenses.

An example of what is covered by 26-101 that made it to the Court of Special Appeals was for a student who refused to go to the principal's office and used profanity in the hallways, disrupting classes. That's absolutely something that should be punished by school discipline, but making it a criminal offense is ridiculous.

At best, you're oblivious to the unintended consequences legislation like this will bring forth. Similar promises about how youth would still be held accountable were made when juvenile justice reform laws were pushed through in recent years. Now, juvenile carjackings, robberies and gun violence have run rampant and legislators are scrambling back to the drawing board to revise the policies and laws they assured us were well thought out and wouldn't unleash chaos in our communities.

At worst, you know the intended consequences and that is the goal. But you know if you say this truth out loud that it won't be popular and pass public muster. So you attempt instead to minimize the impact of this legislation and accuse the media and parents of sensationalizing things.

This is the game that is being played with education and our kids' lives everyday and it is sick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This bill doesn't exempt students from punishment for threatening teachers. It doesn't having anything to do with punishment in school, only with a single criminal charge that exists under the education code for willfully disturbing orderly conduct of school activities or molesting or threatening those present at the school (26-101 in the Maryland Education Code)


It also doesn't exempt them from criminal charges for threatening or assaulting staff or other students. Those are separate crimes that are (rightly) handled in the criminal code, not this part of the education code.

What this bill does do, is eliminate, for actions that happen in a student's own school, from the education code charge for disrupting school activities. If a student threatens a classmate or a teacher that's still a crime, just not THIS crime.

Given the very broad language of the statute, I think that's very reasonable. Willfully disturbing the orderly conduct of the classes can cover a huge range of behavior, most of which is properly the target of school discipline not criminal charges. The behavior that should be targeted by the criminal justice system (assault, harassment, threats) already is through other offenses.

An example of what is covered by 26-101 that made it to the Court of Special Appeals was for a student who refused to go to the principal's office and used profanity in the hallways, disrupting classes. That's absolutely something that should be punished by school discipline, but making it a criminal offense is ridiculous.

Your post seems very reasonable, but how are high schools supposed to resolve a situation where an adult sized student continues to be disruptive and will not go to the principal’s office?

A 26-101 charge isn't a tool in that situation either.

Of course it is. It removes the child from the school to the juvenile justice system so the staff members who had to deal with them can actually get back to educating kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This bill doesn't exempt students from punishment for threatening teachers. It doesn't having anything to do with punishment in school, only with a single criminal charge that exists under the education code for willfully disturbing orderly conduct of school activities or molesting or threatening those present at the school (26-101 in the Maryland Education Code)


It also doesn't exempt them from criminal charges for threatening or assaulting staff or other students. Those are separate crimes that are (rightly) handled in the criminal code, not this part of the education code.

What this bill does do, is eliminate, for actions that happen in a student's own school, from the education code charge for disrupting school activities. If a student threatens a classmate or a teacher that's still a crime, just not THIS crime.

Given the very broad language of the statute, I think that's very reasonable. Willfully disturbing the orderly conduct of the classes can cover a huge range of behavior, most of which is properly the target of school discipline not criminal charges. The behavior that should be targeted by the criminal justice system (assault, harassment, threats) already is through other offenses.

An example of what is covered by 26-101 that made it to the Court of Special Appeals was for a student who refused to go to the principal's office and used profanity in the hallways, disrupting classes. That's absolutely something that should be punished by school discipline, but making it a criminal offense is ridiculous.

Your post seems very reasonable, but how are high schools supposed to resolve a situation where an adult sized student continues to be disruptive and will not go to the principal’s office?

A 26-101 charge isn't a tool in that situation either.

Of course it is. It removes the child from the school to the juvenile justice system so the staff members who had to deal with them can actually get back to educating kids.

+1 I also want to pull out these two absolutely space brained quotes from the bill's sponsor:

"This bill is being introduced because we understand that students are being overly suspended for non-violent offenses and purely accidental disruptions of the classroom,” Sen. Washington said. “Therefore, this legislation is being introduced so that students are not being arrested for subjective disruption claims.”

and

"[W]hen a child is arrested in class, it not only impacts that child, but the other children in the class. It creates shared trauma and it makes it more difficult for the other students to learn after that incident, as well,"

Each of these quotes demonstrates that the sponsors have zero experience with how school discipline is handled and the impact of violent kids on their classmates.

To start, I dare him to identify a "purely accidental" disruption that led to a suspension. Second, kids are almost never "arrested" in the classroom. It is vanishingly rare, and to act like the status quo is cops busting down the doors and hauling kids out of their seats after they "accidentally" disrupt learning is the most reality-averse thing I've heard this month.

The truth is that violent kids are rarely removed, and when they are the overwhelming feeling from their peers is pure relief.