Kid suspended for drawing a gun

[Gemini Cricket]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Seriously? You think punishment is the answer?

I guess I don't have anything more to say to that. I couldn't disagree more.

Accountability for one's actions. I'm quite serious.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

Accountability for one's actions. I'm quite serious.

How will they learn accountability, though, if you aren't talking to them about what they did, or why they did it, or how it can be misconstrued (or correctly interpreted.) I highly doubt that Columbine could have been prevented if they just suspended the kids. If they'd recognized their cries for help and responded with counsel and communication, that's one thing. Suspension? Really?

[Gemini Cricket]

Originally Posted by LSPoorEeyorick

How will they learn accountability, though, if you aren't talking to them about what they did, or why they did it, or how it can be misconstrued (or correctly interpreted.) I highly doubt that Columbine could have been prevented if they just suspended the kids. If they'd recognized their cries for help and responded with counsel and communication, that's one thing. Suspension? Really?

Yep. I think this kid knows how serious the situation is as do his parents. If there are any questions about this kid in the future at least the parents and teachers will notice.

And, yes, we don't know the whole story. I haven't seen any updates on it...

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

Yep. I think this kid knows how serious the situation is as do his parents. If there are any questions about this kid in the future at least the parents and teachers will notice.

See, that's just it. Suspension without reason isn't addressing anything, it's copping out and deferring to "the future". If it IS something more than just doodling, NOW is the time to figure that out, not the time to smack him and hope that fixes it.

[Gemini Cricket]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

See, that's just it. Suspension without reason isn't addressing anything, it's copping out and deferring to "the future". If it IS something more than just doodling, NOW is the time to figure that out, not the time to smack him and hope that fixes it.

But isn't that what suspension is? It's the school saying, 'Parents, fix this'? They are putting it in his parents' court.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

But isn't that what suspension is? It's the school saying, 'Parents, fix this'? They are putting it in his parents' court.

I don't absolve a parent's role, but it should start with informing the parents and letting them know that if there continues to be a problem, punishment will follow. But handing out punishment in the absence of communication is turning the school into an adversarial authority and an uncaring institution, the exact thing that fuels angry kids to act out.