Question

How would you assist school officials in discovering options for suspensions and expulsions? What specific roles could you play?

Answer 1

Suspension and expulsion in educational setup is not an intervention. Researches and studies indicate that practices of suspension and expulsion in childhood can have a unhealthy affect children that causes damage to children and families. The suspension or expulsion of students has been problematic. Consequences of suspension hampers student’s academic progress and this enhances the chances of the student dropping out of school as well as have other negative outcomes. There are various alternatives to suspension and expulsion.

Alternative options act as disciplinary consequence. As a Counselor, I can play an important role is aiding the school authorities to look for healthy ways to handle the maladaptive behavior of the students that caused them serious consequence of suspension or expulsion. As a counselor, I can help in creating a caring school environment and climate. Another way to handle problematic behavior is by increasing parent involvement. Providing workshops or programs that involve parents and maintain communication with them about their children's behavior and performance in school. Early identification and intervention programs can also be developed that provides systematic screening of students who potential behavior issues and then provide interventions for the students identified as at “risk. In-school suspension can also be worked as an alternative where rather than not coming to school for few days, the students are seated up in an alternative setting that removes students from the classroom for some period of time. Counseling can also be given to students that will help students develop positive behavior and provide them skills of anger management.