Seeking an update on Hardy Middle School

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One thing that I've observed over the years, on DCUM and in real life: among a certain group of NW DC parents, there is a huge desire to see harsh punishment for kids involved in even the slightest amount of misbehavior, circumstances be damned, at Hardy or Wilson. I often wonder why they are so bloodthirsty.

I don't agree with it but I get it. Parents don't want their children's learning disrupted by students with behavioral issues. They are also concerned that problematic behavior may be directed at their children.

The biggest indictment against harsh punishment is the lack of evidence that it's effective. That's particularly true of out of school suspensions. Programs that help students resolve issues with their peers show promise but the schools are not consistent in utilizing these approaches. Programs like restorative justice should be common throughout the system and supported by DCPS

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One thing that I've observed over the years, on DCUM and in real life: among a certain group of NW DC parents, there is a huge desire to see harsh punishment for kids involved in even the slightest amount of misbehavior, circumstances be damned, at Hardy or Wilson. I often wonder why they are so bloodthirsty.

I don't agree with it but I get it. Parents don't want their children's learning disrupted by students with behavioral issues. They are also concerned that problematic behavior may be directed at their children.

The biggest indictment against harsh punishment is the lack of evidence that it's effective. That's particularly true of out of school suspensions. Programs that help students resolve issues with their peers show promise but the schools are not consistent in utilizing these approaches. Programs like restorative justice should be common throughout the system and supported by DCPS

+1

Curious if there are studies showing whether keeping formerly suspended kids in school results in overall decline in behaviors of the other kids in school. As a parent I see among children in groups a tendency to drift towards towards the edges of allowable behavior. Suspensions hurt the suspended. Do they help anyone?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One thing that I've observed over the years, on DCUM and in real life: among a certain group of NW DC parents, there is a huge desire to see harsh punishment for kids involved in even the slightest amount of misbehavior, circumstances be damned, at Hardy or Wilson. I often wonder why they are so bloodthirsty.

I don't agree with it but I get it. Parents don't want their children's learning disrupted by students with behavioral issues. They are also concerned that problematic behavior may be directed at their children.

The biggest indictment against harsh punishment is the lack of evidence that it's effective. That's particularly true of out of school suspensions. Programs that help students resolve issues with their peers show promise but the schools are not consistent in utilizing these approaches. Programs like restorative justice should be common throughout the system and supported by DCPS

+1

+1. Suspension just gives the kid a day off and they spend it relaxing at home, probably unsuoervised-- hardly a punishment at all. It does nothing to resolve the real issues of lack of self-control and poor interpersonal skills, so the next day they are back making trouble again. Restorative justice makes kids learn those things, and makes them do tedious things like apologize in writing. Not fun like a day off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One thing that I've observed over the years, on DCUM and in real life: among a certain group of NW DC parents, there is a huge desire to see harsh punishment for kids involved in even the slightest amount of misbehavior, circumstances be damned, at Hardy or Wilson. I often wonder why they are so bloodthirsty.

I don't agree with it but I get it. Parents don't want their children's learning disrupted by students with behavioral issues. They are also concerned that problematic behavior may be directed at their children.

The biggest indictment against harsh punishment is the lack of evidence that it's effective. That's particularly true of out of school suspensions. Programs that help students resolve issues with their peers show promise but the schools are not consistent in utilizing these approaches. Programs like restorative justice should be common throughout the system and supported by DCPS

+1

+1. Suspension just gives the kid a day off and they spend it relaxing at home, probably unsuoervised-- hardly a punishment at all. It does nothing to resolve the real issues of lack of self-control and poor interpersonal skills, so the next day they are back making trouble again. Restorative justice makes kids learn those things, and makes them do tedious things like apologize in writing. Not fun like a day off.

And I. Addition, is offer that for some kids suspension is further isolating, reaffirming that they are different, in a bad way. Agree that the benefit of their absence is short lived for the other students.

[Anonymous]

Sorry. "And in addition, I'd offer"

[Anonymous]

One way to deal with some really bad seeds in the middle and especially high schools is to suspend them, yes, but then make them wear pink jumpsuits and put them on a chain gang for a few days. Make them pick up litter, clean out still sewers and scrub graffiti around D.C. That should help to adjust their attitude.

[Anonymous]

They say that Pride goeth before the fall.