Missteps in School Discipline

How student handbooks can prevent unfair consequences

I have two stories I want to share:

1. A kid in my practice, who I’ll call Jamie, recently found a box of sound poppers in school, gave them to a friend when the friend asked for them, and got in trouble when the friend used them in class the next period and disclosed that Jamie was the source of the poppers. The assistant principal gave Jamie an in-school suspension, arguing that the sound poppers were “violent,” and that, by sharing them with his friend, Jamie contributed to violence.

2. A different kid in my practice, who I’ll call Riley, said that another kid in their grade was bullying them. When Riley told their faculty advisor what was going on, the advisor suggested a mediation approach in which the three of them (Riley, the accused bully, and the advisor) would sit together and talk about the conflict. 

I disagreed with the ways in which the schools handled both of these incidents, and I was curious to understand whether official school policy informed the decisions the school faculty made. I asked Jamie’s and Riley’s parents to send me their respective student handbooks.

In Jamie’s case, the assistant principal clearly violated the procedure stated in the handbook. The disciplinary code in the handbook clearly defined what counted as low-level and high-level offenses, and what Jamie did was undoubtedly a low-level offense. The code stated that Jamie should have first received a warning before the school could take any further disciplinary action. Jamie received no such warning.

In Riley’s case, it took a really long time for Riley and her family to locate a student handbook: at first, they were under the impression that no such handbook existed, and it was not available for download on the school’s website. I encouraged them to reach out to the school to request it, and only then was it made available. Though the handbook spelled out what constitutes bullying and harassment, and it encouraged students to report instances of bullying and harassment without fear of repercussions, it did not describe any investigatory or disciplinary procedure that would follow the report.

These situations struck me as highly problematic.

Student handbooks are essential for the functioning of middle and high school communities because they provide clear expectations regarding discipline, which is crucial for maintaining a safe and orderly environment. These handbooks must clearly and unambiguously describe guidelines and procedures for handling various offenses, ensuring that both students and faculty understand the consequences of different actions. By establishing a consistent framework, student handbooks help to prevent misunderstandings and disputes, allowing the school community to focus more on educational goals rather than disciplinary issues. Moreover, these documents serve as a reference that both new and returning school community members can rely upon to understand their roles and responsibilities within the school.

I strongly encourage all parents and caregivers to locate and review student handbooks with their kids, to contact the school for any clarifications, and to offer constructive feedback when necessary.

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Can’t wait to see Ben Platt later!