The time and energy required to address the problem of disruptive students are one of the major complaints of classroom teachers. I don't think anyone who has not taught in a public school can possibly appreciate the effect even one miscreant can have on the ability of other students to learn.

In most school districts, suspension is used when students violate significant rules of behavior. If the strategy were working as intended, I would support it. The trouble is that it is not effective. In Texas, for example, suspensions not only did not result in better behavior but also led to poor achievement and brushes with law enforcement. As if these were not enough, black students were disproportionately affected.

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