Vocabulary
What does punishment mean?
A penalty or loss that a student is given when they disobey the rules.
What is a zero tolerance policy?
Zero tolerance policies are ways that schools give severe consequences to students for certain behaviors without considering the whole situation.
What is a school resource officer?
A police officer that works in a school and has special training to work in schools.
What is restorative justice?
Practices that focus on building and repairing relationships and fostering a strong sense of community.
What does advocacy mean?
Speaking up for an action or decision that you believe in. An advocate is a person who speaks up for you.
What does detention mean?
A punishment that makes students stay after school to do extra work.
Do zero tolerance policies make schools safer? Why?
No, zero tolerance policies do not make schools safer. This is a misconception. Often students get punished more for smaller problems and this makes them unsafe.
What are SROs responsibilities and powers?
They are responsible for security and community building. They are able to arrest students but they should try to build community.
Why do schools use these policies instead of zero tolerance policies or punitive measures?
They believe that police officers and zero tolerance policies in schools do more harm than good.
When do you need to advocate for yourself?
In a situation in which a student is in trouble and facing discipline from an authority figure. I need to advocate for myself to an authority figure.
What does discipline mean?
Making sure that students are following rules and expectations for behavior.
Why do zero tolerance policies harm students?
Zero tolerance policies punish students too strongly for what they did. This often causes a cycle of discipline for students that means they spend less time in school and more in trouble.
What is one argument people use to support SRO’s in schools?
Some people argue that SROs build community and make schools safer.
What are the benefits of Restorative Justice?
They think about the context of a problem and work with students to help them solve it instead of punishing them.
Why is advocacy hard?
Advocacy can be scary, especially when you are getting in trouble and having to talk to an authority figure. You might also be very upset if the punishment is unfair which makes it hard to advocate calmly.
What does expulsion mean?
Expulsion means to kick a student out or remove a student from a school. When a student is taken out of their school permanently. They cannot come back.
Who do zero tolerance policies affect the most?
Zero tolerance policies affect students who are not white the most. The most impacted groups are BIPOC (specifically African American and Hispanic) males.
What is one argument people use to oppose SRO’s in schools?
Some people argue that when students have more contact with police officers, they are more likely to end up in prison.
What is one alternative to punishing students who misbehave in schools?
The video showed a mentor program where students who are struggling in schools can work with adults in the community. This supports students and strengthens relationships.
Why is advocacy important?
Advocacy is important because it empowers students and helps them protect their right to be in school. It stops harsh punishments from being so severe.
What is an authority figure?
A person who has the power to make decisions, tell students what to do, and punish students.
How are zero tolerance policies a part of the school to prison pipeline?
Zero tolerance policies force students into more disciplinary situations and into more contact with police officers. Students also spend more time outside of school (suspension or expulsion) when they should be in school learning.
Should SROs be allowed in schools?
[Answers will widely vary] No, because there are better alternatives for students than police officers. Police officers are more likely to get students in trouble than help build community.
What is the difference between zero tolerance policies and restorative justice practices?
Zero tolerance focuses on punishment for breaking rules, while restorative justice focuses on repairing the harm caused to people and relationships. Both policies give students consequences for their actions. However, zero tolerance policies focus on harsh punishments and restorative justice focuses on fixing the reason for the problem.
What are some things you can say to advocate for yourself? What are some strategies you can use?
[Answers vary greatly] I could say… I am sorry for, I made a mistake but, I don’t think that this is a fair judgement/punishment because, I do not understand why you said, can you explain why, I think that a fair punishment would be…