School Suspensions Hurt Whole Community, Not Just the Student, Research Shows – Youth Today

In this opinion piece, University of Delaware professor Aaron Kupchik writes about the impact of school suspensions on both the student and the community. According to research, suspended students are at greater risk of dropping out of school and becoming involved in the justice system. Some schools have implemented successful alternative-to-suspension programs, but others have responded with overly lax disciplinary methods or corporal punishment. Kupchik argues that school suspension has adverse effects, including “socializing young people into apathetic roles as citizens, reshaping school climates, posing a hardship on families and burdening taxpayers.” Read more.