Letter: Abolish out-of-school suspensions of students

Having worked as a schoolteacher in New York City and Long lsland with a master’s degree in elementary education, and then as a nationally certified school psychologist for 40 years in New Jersey and then in Honolulu, I concur with the Star-Advertiser and Lee Cataluna’s column (“Schools should curb suspension,” Star-Advertiser, Our View, June 19; “Old schools weeded out bad behavior,” Lee Cataluna, July 5).

The following are my recommendations:

>> lf a student is deemed needing school suspension, a complete psychological and educational evaluation should be mandated by school personnel and then the recommendations should be followed.

>> Out-of-school suspensions should be abolished, as the student is then further alienated from educational supervision and care.

>> Every public school in Hawaii should have an in-school suspension room where the student is supervised and educated for the specified time.

>> All students are our responsibility as educators and concerned citizens. Therefore, positive educational procedures should be followed, eliminating rejection of needy students.

Joanne Shapiro

Makiki

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