<p>[CPS</a> seeks to lessen student suspensions - chicagotribune.com](<a href=“http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/education/ct-met-cps-student-discipline-0626-20120626,0,1655498.story]CPS”>http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/education/ct-met-cps-student-discipline-0626-20120626,0,1655498.story)</p>
<p>OK, I am at a loss here. One thing that I know about CPS is that they have real cops as resource officers, so I am assuming that the kids could get real jail time as well. What about expulsion? </p>
<p>Too many unanswered questions, but it seems disturbing and not what I hav come to expect from the new head of schools. He seems much more law and order than that.</p>
<p>There have been a couple of threads on how severely/leniently violations are treated in different school systems. Our public school system Superintendent changed, and punishments became so severe (e.g., expulsion for carrying an empty beer bottle across an athletic field when school was not in session) that a branch of the school board was tasked with reviewing all violations involving students on school property.</p>
<p>These behaviors are criminal offenses that should be handled by the justice system, not the school. I think the rule should be that a student is suspended–or at least placed in an alternative setting-- during the pendency of a criminal process, so no one has to sit in class next to an accused arsonist or rapist.</p>
<p>I think articles like this shouldn’t be taken at face value. Schools don’t want criminals hanging around campus. The change must be something they needed in order to have more flexibility. Suspending kids from school is bad for the community, you have unsupervised kids with nothing to do but get in trouble. They also get behind in their schoolwork. It is in the schools and communities best interest to keep kids (not being handled by juvenile authorities) in a supervised, on campus, detention center where they can continue learning. </p>
<p>When students commit criminal activities I am sure the police must be notified. I would assume there is some type of law. I don’t think the CPS are trying to circumvent laws in order to keep criminals on campus.</p>
<p>One of the biggest problems (if not the biggest) schools face in this day is the inability or unwillingness of the administrations to properly discipline the kids that should be disciplined. As in most cases its 1-2% of the population that is causing 95% of the problems and using up 95% of the time. Schools are so afraid of lawsuits and so handcuffed by government rules and regulations they can’t put the problem kids into a place where they can be better served, ALC or ABE or …</p>
<p>Some of these kids hide behind a 504 plan (if that the right terminology) and continue to get away with horrible behavior under the guise of special needs. Meanwhile the true special needs kids are not getting the help they need because of the behavior problems.</p>