This month I want to focus on school-related topics that most people may not know about that negatively impacts black and brown student's futures. As a school psychologist I work with students prek-12th grade who are suspected of having a disability(ies) that may be impeding their academic progress. I also work to develop/implement interventions in the classroom to ensure that general education students who may be falling behind academically due to a variety of reasons receive the help that they need to achieve optimally in the classroom. I'm passionate about my job and really love what I do but I want to shed some light on things that have been frustrating me lately and hopefully spark a positive change.
I used to work in an elementary and high school in a high socio-economic area a few years ago but soon realized that my passion was working with underprivileged children and families. So, for the past couple of years I've been working at elementary schools in the "hood". I believe that I've had a positive impact in the schools I work at but I can't help but feel drained at times. I never expected to feel that I'd have to defend black and brown students as much as I do in the elementary schools that are run by black and brown people. Let me explain what I mean. At every school I've visited or worked at in low socio-economic areas there is the common issue of behavioral problems. Students elope, get kicked out of class for most of the day, get sent home for a variety of reasons etc., but yet there is no teaching of replacement behaviors or proper consequences for their conduct. Ultimately, this leads to the students missing out on valuable instruction and consequently falling behind academically. Then, I'm requested to evaluate them because the staff suspects that the student has a learning disability because the student isn't learning and their grades have plummeted. This causes me so much frustration because there is no disciplinary system in a lot of these schools. They'd rather not deal with it and send them home.
I witness almost every single time when a student misbehaves that there is no actual consequence for their behavior but rather a positive reinforcement (i.e, getting sent home, kicked out of class etc.). For example, let's say Johnny hates to read. So, little Johnny has learned to act out during the reading block to be sent out of class and ultimately avoid having to read altogether which causes him to miss out on instruction and classwork. Students do not fear going to the principal's office like they used to when I was growing up. I've witnessed students being kicked out of class and sent to the office only for them to be playing with blocks and offered candy by the principal or other school staff. How does this teach the student that their behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated? This teaches the child that it is okay to act that way and they will continue to act that way through middle and high school which may lead to them getting kicked out, dropping out, or ending up in handcuffs. I expect more from schools run by black and brown people. We should want more from our students.
Sadly, most of these students are bringing behaviors to school that they've learned is appropriate in their home environment. I hate to say it but a lot of these parents that I encounter do not provide appropriate consequences to their children either. There is always a function for a behavior that a child exhibits whether it's to gain attention from peers or adults, or to simply avoid doing a task that they deem difficult or unpleasant. My role is to help develop an assessment and observe what the function of the behavior is and then develop a positive behavioral intervention plan to assist in replacing those maladaptive behaviors with positive ones and rewarding positive behaviors. Since the teacher is with the student most of the day it is their job to implement this plan to help shape the behaviors. But that can get tricky when a teacher has multiple students with behavioral issues while also attending to the other students in the class to ensure everyone achieves optimal learning so plans may not always be implemented with fidelity.
My frustration stems from a lack of support and resources that schools in low-income areas deal with. It also stems from black and brown people treating their own with such low tolerance and not caring enough to teach these children (with love) what's appropriate or not. I've gotten into several disagreements with school staff about consequences that students should have for their poor conduct. I do not think it is appropriate to send children home for every little thing or kicking them out of class and letting them play instead of making them do the classwork that they would've been doing if they were in class. I've met several parents who have lost their job and struggle to keep a steady job because they are forced to leave in the middle of the work day to pick up their child from school every other day. Sadly, a lot of these parents do not know their rights. They do not know that their child should not be going home unless it is a documented suspension (which it's often not). They should know that they are being taken advantage of because they do not know their rights.
I try my best to advocate for these children and families but I am just one person. This is not a battle I expected to fight while working in this demographic. There are days when I feel so drained from it all. It physically pains me to see this happening in these schools because I am not necessarily looking at the present but rather at these children's future. The school to prison pipeline is real. I hope that bringing this to light can spark a constructive conversation and bring about a positive change.
What are your thoughts on this? Was it like this when you were in school? How can this be resolved?
I used to work in an elementary and high school in a high socio-economic area a few years ago but soon realized that my passion was working with underprivileged children and families. So, for the past couple of years I've been working at elementary schools in the "hood". I believe that I've had a positive impact in the schools I work at but I can't help but feel drained at times. I never expected to feel that I'd have to defend black and brown students as much as I do in the elementary schools that are run by black and brown people. Let me explain what I mean. At every school I've visited or worked at in low socio-economic areas there is the common issue of behavioral problems. Students elope, get kicked out of class for most of the day, get sent home for a variety of reasons etc., but yet there is no teaching of replacement behaviors or proper consequences for their conduct. Ultimately, this leads to the students missing out on valuable instruction and consequently falling behind academically. Then, I'm requested to evaluate them because the staff suspects that the student has a learning disability because the student isn't learning and their grades have plummeted. This causes me so much frustration because there is no disciplinary system in a lot of these schools. They'd rather not deal with it and send them home.
I witness almost every single time when a student misbehaves that there is no actual consequence for their behavior but rather a positive reinforcement (i.e, getting sent home, kicked out of class etc.). For example, let's say Johnny hates to read. So, little Johnny has learned to act out during the reading block to be sent out of class and ultimately avoid having to read altogether which causes him to miss out on instruction and classwork. Students do not fear going to the principal's office like they used to when I was growing up. I've witnessed students being kicked out of class and sent to the office only for them to be playing with blocks and offered candy by the principal or other school staff. How does this teach the student that their behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated? This teaches the child that it is okay to act that way and they will continue to act that way through middle and high school which may lead to them getting kicked out, dropping out, or ending up in handcuffs. I expect more from schools run by black and brown people. We should want more from our students.
Sadly, most of these students are bringing behaviors to school that they've learned is appropriate in their home environment. I hate to say it but a lot of these parents that I encounter do not provide appropriate consequences to their children either. There is always a function for a behavior that a child exhibits whether it's to gain attention from peers or adults, or to simply avoid doing a task that they deem difficult or unpleasant. My role is to help develop an assessment and observe what the function of the behavior is and then develop a positive behavioral intervention plan to assist in replacing those maladaptive behaviors with positive ones and rewarding positive behaviors. Since the teacher is with the student most of the day it is their job to implement this plan to help shape the behaviors. But that can get tricky when a teacher has multiple students with behavioral issues while also attending to the other students in the class to ensure everyone achieves optimal learning so plans may not always be implemented with fidelity.
My frustration stems from a lack of support and resources that schools in low-income areas deal with. It also stems from black and brown people treating their own with such low tolerance and not caring enough to teach these children (with love) what's appropriate or not. I've gotten into several disagreements with school staff about consequences that students should have for their poor conduct. I do not think it is appropriate to send children home for every little thing or kicking them out of class and letting them play instead of making them do the classwork that they would've been doing if they were in class. I've met several parents who have lost their job and struggle to keep a steady job because they are forced to leave in the middle of the work day to pick up their child from school every other day. Sadly, a lot of these parents do not know their rights. They do not know that their child should not be going home unless it is a documented suspension (which it's often not). They should know that they are being taken advantage of because they do not know their rights.
I try my best to advocate for these children and families but I am just one person. This is not a battle I expected to fight while working in this demographic. There are days when I feel so drained from it all. It physically pains me to see this happening in these schools because I am not necessarily looking at the present but rather at these children's future. The school to prison pipeline is real. I hope that bringing this to light can spark a constructive conversation and bring about a positive change.
What are your thoughts on this? Was it like this when you were in school? How can this be resolved?
Nice write up on the challenges of working in low SES schools. I believe administration has to encourage natural consequences and positive discipline among school staff. I agree with you that we have to continue to advocate and educate.
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