Author Archives: Suspensionstories

About Suspensionstories

Suspension Stories is a youth-led participatory action research project to understand the school to prison pipeline. This initiative is the result of a collaboration between the Rogers Park Young Women's Action Team (www.rogersparkywat.org) and Project NIA (www.project-nia.org).

Video: Peer Juries in Peoria Illinois

Posted on April 25, 2011 by Suspensionstories

People are often looking for concrete examples to address harsh school disciplinary policies. The following video features the example of a peer jury in Peoria Illinois.

Posted in Restorative Justice | Comments Off on Video: Peer Juries in Peoria Illinois

Criminalizing Young People: Banning Sagging Pants in Florida

Posted on April 16, 2011 by Suspensionstories

Much has already been written about sagging pants and the various efforts to criminalize the practice.  Well the Orlando Sentinel reports that a bill to criminalize sagging pants is closer to becoming law since it has passed the Florida Senate.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Criminalizing Youth, Harsh Disciplinary Policies, School Pushout | Comments Off on Criminalizing Young People: Banning Sagging Pants in Florida

On Teachers Calling Kid “Future Criminals” and the School-to-Prison Pipeline

Posted on April 8, 2011 by Suspensionstories

by Latoya Peterson A first grade teacher in Paterson, New Jersey was recently put on administrative leave after she took to the internet to vent her frustrations about work. According to NBC New York, the teacher was suspended for “allegedly … Continue reading →

Posted in Criminalizing Youth, Harsh Disciplinary Policies, School Pushout, School to Prison Pipeline | Comments Off on On Teachers Calling Kid “Future Criminals” and the School-to-Prison Pipeline

Orr High School Is Pushing Students Out…

Posted on March 24, 2011 by Suspensionstories

From Catalyst Chicago: By Rebecca Harris On Monday, March 21, 2011 In High Schools In the month that Tyese Sims has been principal of Orr High, she has dropped 44 students from the rolls, she acknowledges. But one community group … Continue reading →

Posted in Harsh Disciplinary Policies, School Pushout, Zero Tolerance | Comments Off on Orr High School Is Pushing Students Out…

5 Myths about Zero Tolerance Disciplinary Policies

Posted on March 12, 2011 by Suspensionstories

From the Washington Post: The American Psychological Association put together a task force to research the effectiveness of zero-tolerance disciplinary policies, and the panel issued a report titled, “Are Zero Tolerance Policies Effective in the Schools? An Evidentiary Review and … Continue reading →

Posted in Harsh Disciplinary Policies, School Pushout, Zero Tolerance | Comments Off on 5 Myths about Zero Tolerance Disciplinary Policies

In NYC, Grade School Suspensions Up 76 Percent

Posted on March 10, 2011 by Suspensionstories

From the NY Daily News: Suspensions for 4- to-10-year-olds soared by 76% since Mayor Bloomberg took control of city schools, the Daily News has learned. Elementary school-age students were hit with 6,119 suspensions in the 2008-09 school year – up … Continue reading →

Posted in Criminalizing Youth, Harsh Disciplinary Policies, School Pushout, School to Prison Pipeline, Zero Tolerance | Comments Off on In NYC, Grade School Suspensions Up 76 Percent

‘What Kids Can Do’ Profiles Suspension Stories…

Posted on March 4, 2011 by Suspensionstories

by Barbara Cervone CHICAGO, IL—“He who opens a school door closes a prison,” Victor Hugo wrote in his 19th-century masterpiece, Les Miserables.  Yet in today’s United States, students as young as six years old are being suspended, expelled, and even … Continue reading →

Posted in Harsh Disciplinary Policies, School Pushout, School to Prison Pipeline, Zero Tolerance | Comments Off on ‘What Kids Can Do’ Profiles Suspension Stories…

Moms Debate Zero Tolerance Policies on NPR

Posted on March 2, 2011 by Suspensionstories

You can listen to the story here. The recent suicide of a student in suburban Washington, D.C., after being suspended from school has sparked a fierce debate on disciplinary policies. Angry parents say “zero tolerance” rules are too harsh on … Continue reading →

Posted in Harsh Disciplinary Policies, Suicide, Zero Tolerance | Comments Off on Moms Debate Zero Tolerance Policies on NPR

Schools That Punish Young Men For Being Allies to Young Women Are Misguided and Wrong

Posted on February 28, 2011 by Suspensionstories

By Mariame Kaba (cross-posted at Chicago Taskforce on Violence against Girls Blog) I was stunned to read about the case of a high school senior in Mississippi who was suspended and sent to an alternative school for 5 weeks for writing … Continue reading →

Posted in Harsh Disciplinary Policies, School Pushout, Zero Tolerance | Comments Off on Schools That Punish Young Men For Being Allies to Young Women Are Misguided and Wrong

Ceilings of Oppressions: A Photo Project about the Cradle to Prison Pipeline by Halley Miglietta

Posted on February 27, 2011 by Suspensionstories

Here are some words from Halley about her work: The focus of this project was to capture the oppressive relationship between humans and institutions, as each photograph is inextricably linked in portraying the interconnected, wicked pipeline of injustice. The function … Continue reading →

Posted in Criminalizing Youth, School to Prison Pipeline | Comments Off on Ceilings of Oppressions: A Photo Project about the Cradle to Prison Pipeline by Halley Miglietta

Maryland Reviews Zero Tolerance Policies in the Wake of a Virginia Student’s Suicide

Posted on February 24, 2011 by Suspensionstories

From ABC 2: Headlines in the Washington Post are turning the heads of some state school board members in Maryland after a student who admitted to buying a fake drug from a classmate was kicked off the football team, transferred … Continue reading →

Posted in Harsh Disciplinary Policies, Suicide, Zero Tolerance | Comments Off on Maryland Reviews Zero Tolerance Policies in the Wake of a Virginia Student’s Suicide

In Florida, Bra Straps Can Lead to Suspensions…

Posted on February 23, 2011 by Suspensionstories

Here is what’s happening in Florida: Students showing bra straps or underwear, beware. Sen. Gary Siplin, D-Orlando, wants you to cover up. The Senate Pre K-12 Education Committee passed Siplin’s “Code of Student Conduct” legislation Monday, which requires district school … Continue reading →

Posted in Criminalizing Youth, Harsh Disciplinary Policies, School Pushout | Comments Off on In Florida, Bra Straps Can Lead to Suspensions…