Educational systems have used suspension as a means of punishment for a very long time. But maybe this is not the best way to encourage change from students.

In a 2002 study, researchers looked into an alternative to out-of-school suspension for children who engaged in violence. This alternative involved learning problem-solving and social- thinking skills as well as training for parental figures. What they found was that kids who completed the alternative program were resuspended less often following completion, engaged in violence less often, and were not as likely to be expelled.

This program should be looked at as a replacement for suspension, as it changes our view on punishing children, from deterrence and retribution to rehabilitation. If we can lower our students’ violent tendencies before they are adults, they stand a much better chance of not going to jail or committing more violent crimes in the future.

Alea Armintrout

McCully-Moiliili

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