Purpose: Studies suggest that out-of-school suspensions and expulsions rarely improve student outcomes or perceptions of school safety. At the same time, there is consistent evidence of disparities by race, class, and ability in the implementation of "zero tolerance" discipline policies. Stakeholders across the country have leveraged…

The problem of unsafe schools, in the sense of schools being afflicted by incidences of violence, crime, and general anti-social behaviour, is a worldwide problem. Not surprisingly, the literature on the subject tends to centre on two issues: understanding the problem, and avoiding or combating the problem. This paper focuses on the second by…

Restorative practices statistically replicate racial inequality in discipline, even while reducing overall school suspension rates and improving school climate. To understand why, the researcher conducted a year-long, multi-case ethnography examining restorative practices at three public secondary small schools in New York City. All three school…

Schools across the nation report increases in the use of punitive disciplinary methods (e.g., suspension). The need for these disciplinary practices to address serious student misconduct is undisputed. What research has questioned is why some students seem to be suspended more often than others, what effects suspension has on students, and whether…

This paper critiques the use of zero tolerance policies for general and special education students, focusing on equal educational opportunity. It presents an alternative comprehensive schoolwide approach to discipline that infuses best practices and a philosophy of democratic education. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)…

This paper presents a history of zero tolerance policies, discusses the breadth and scope of zero tolerance policies in U.S. public schools, examines unintended consequences of zero tolerance policies (especially those conflicting with basic philosophical tenets of the public school system), and makes recommendations for creating and implementing…

This paper examines the elements leading to school violence in order to propose strategies to help achieve a peaceful school climate. It states that there is evidence that the brain of violent individuals seems to reveal abnormalities. Brain pathology and genetic vulnerability are only two components that may cause individuals to become antisocial…