In this paper, I particularly address the U.S. Department of Education and the Criminal Justice Systems. This audience is crucial in this issue because they are the influencers of this topic and are the administrative and decision-making attributes to cause growth in the right direction. This audience is going to be challenging to persuade because of their higher power. They are entrenched in these set of rules that they don’t have to abide by, and the bulk of different perspectives on this topic. Many law enforcements, and the Board of Education concentrate on, what they think is valued in more urgent issues. As in money going towards their needs and what they value as important. Furthermore, concluding this issue is going to require a lot of understanding from the Board of Education and Law Enforcements to change curriculum and laws that are unjust. But, asking them to have a open heart when reading and have a different perspective to understand all sides.
In elementary school, do you remember that rule where you had to be in a straight line when walking to your class, three blocks away from the wall? If you don’t recall, I had absurd rules like this in my elementary school. It went to the extreme to even punishing students that would never stay in line. Most schools these days around the country use rules and regulations to discipline children at young ages. But, what happens when authority is starting to overuse their powers? Or the rules become irrational for some students? The school-to-prison pipeline scourge the youth all over the United States, especially low income and crime inflicted areas. When the school system emphasizes on suspensions, expulsions, and even involving law enforcement to the extent. The youth are inclined to think that being incarcerated is imminent, and seemingly possible for their future.
Since, the 1980s, when Ronald Reagan’s announcement of the “War on Drugs”, he started this evolution through the law enforcements to become more strict in enforcing and enacting the laws, and leaning towards “tough on crime stance.” (Glass, 2010). In results to, increased jail populations over the last 30 years. (Advancement Project). Ever since this increase of harsh punishments in the law, schools and school districts are starting to take intact of the same approaches. But, what this only does is to continue to increase the jail populations instead of solving the actual problems.
Also, the increase of police officers in classrooms have grown. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the number of school resource officers increased by 38% between 1997 and 2007. The regular presence of school security guards increased 27% between 1999 and 2007. (U.S. Department of Justice, 2010). But, does this occur because of the violence in school or to display a more “tough on crime stance”? When children are exposed to more law enforcements in schools, it can bring a compelling atmosphere for children. As in growing arrest rates in schools, enstranging students to feel less safe and having students think that there is a probability of them getting arrested by those very own police officers.
The ACLU defines the school-to-prison pipeline as “the policies and practices that push our nation’s school children, especially our most at-risk children, out of classrooms and into the juvenile and criminal justices systems.” But, then the U.S. Department of Education has mission statements to, “promote students success” and when the school systems have no zero tolerance policies that override students rights, or no matter what the Board of Education decides to enforce it will not benefit the students to continue being put into juvenile and detention centers. So, when children are being surrounded with these circumstances. The youth are inclined to think that being incarcerated is imminent, and seemingly possible for their future.
The U.S. Department of Education’s mission statement is to, “promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.” When half of the school system in America are making children of color and minorities a probability of them being incarcerated. With absurd rules, and penal punishments, and only holding kids of color intact. USA Today studies show that, “African-American students are supposedly nearly four times as likely as their white classmates to be suspended from school, new federal data show. a stark reminder that more than 60 years after the Brown v. Board of Education decision, public school is a different place for many minority students than it is for white students.” (USA Today) So, is it really children of color that are troubled or the policies and administration handling the rules?
A Zero-Tolerance Policy, is one of the policies that the school systems enact in order to demonstrate to students that they are serious about the punishments and rules. Education law describes this policy as, “The zero tolerance policy requires school officials to hand down specific, consistent, and harsh punishment—usually suspension or expulsion—when students break certain rules.” (Gjelten) Under the zero tolerance policy, the punishments imply in every situation, under no conditions. Most schools in the United States enforce it, but does it benefit children and discipline them? With these polices, some of them are just common sense. For example, if you bring a gun or weapon to school. No regards their are punishments. But, the main problem with this policy is that they don’t make a difference in the schools. In 2008, the American Psychological Association published a report that concluded, “Zero tolerance has not been shown to improve school climate or school safety.” (American Psychological Association, 2008). The zero tolerance policies were uselessly prohibiting children from receiving a public education and if anything inducing children to encounter legal charges for inconsequential misdemeanors.
Let’s face it, whether we increase the amount of law enforcements in schools, or boast the zero-tolerance policy, students just continue to get themselves in trouble with the criminal justice within their schools. But, what is it that we can do to decrease the fact of them coming in contact with the law enforcements? Maybe, is it the harsh rules, no counseling, revising the curriculum? As of right now are next generation is going down the wrong path, and it’s up to us to lead them in the right way.
However, if it wasn’t for these harsh rules students would be more cautious of what they do, and their actions. Regardless of how harsh the disciplinary actions are they are effective, and keep the students safe for the most part. It also, opens the eyes of students, to not go down those same path, and instead of it being a future destination it can be a learning experience. When students get punished for their actions, it demonstrates to the other students at the school that they have a no tolerance for misbehaviors. Also, it gives students to change their behavior while away or fix their attitudes. Giving students disciplinary punishments provides students to ponder on their actions and to learn from them, if it is their fault. So, with zero-tolerance policies and punishments do come benefits to students.
So, with the school systems disheartening students minds with engraving jail into their future. Instead of, “promoting student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.”, like the U.S. Department of Education promises to the families and students. The School to Prison Pipeline is shaped by many components by higher power. Since, a child’s childhood is so important and sets a foundation for the rest of their lives, it’s crucial that the Board of Education makes it safe and a students success is what matters. Students can actually become someone and claim their success when they have the support and encouragement from the right people.