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Schools Within School: Approaches to Discipline

Posted on August 24, 2015August 24, 2015 by Sue Legg

No excuses discipline policies create as many problems as they solve. Students are suspended, hit the streets and create more trouble. When they return to school, it is a downward cycle.

School districts are adopting new strategies for managing bad behavior management strategies. Just as in law enforcement, schools are reevaluating who is being targeted and why.

The Miami Herald reports that a new approach to discipline in Miami-Dade schools will require extensive retraining and a massive culture change. The district has 36,000 suspensions. They have taken a multi-pronged strategy.

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New Mexico Struggles Against Inequity

Posted on August 23, 2015August 24, 2015 by Sue Legg

‘New Mexico’s education department is in court. So are those in 12 other states, including Florida. This lawsuit is about money, but not just the amount of money. In New Mexico, the population is different from many states, and the needs are greater.

Meredith Machen sent information about their state that helps to better understand the challenges they face. Take heart, some public education advocates are winning in court.

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Failure Factories: Your Worst Nightmare

Posted on August 21, 2015August 21, 2015 by Sue Legg

We have all heard about violence in some schools. This second piece in the Tampa Bay Times on the Pinellas County failing schools should have a disturbing warning. It is not disturbing, it is frightening. Ignoring problems makes them worse, much worse.

I hesitated to post this story, but we need to know what happens when those who can, flee and refuse to deal with who is left. This is the picture that some paint about the impact of socio-economic resegregation of our schools. We can avoid this scenario if we have the will and the common sense not to divide our communities. Behaviors can be managed if the children receive the help they need.

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Broward School Bonds Back in the News

Posted on August 21, 2015August 21, 2015 by Sue Legg

Broward Schools are struggling to make things right. Sometimes you may try too hard. This time the district is determined to avoid corruption or even the appearance of it. The voters have told the district to spend money and improve the schools, and getting that to happen is harder than it seems. I am interested in how public school districts are trying to meet the challenges they confront. I hope you are too. Read Margery’s account of a good problem that still makes the news.