Kelsey Volkmann, The Examiner
2008-05-12 07:00:00.0
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BALTIMORE -

Principals suspend students repeatedly instead of examining mental illness, poverty, abuse and other struggles that lead kids to misbehave, a state delegate says.

“When a child keeps getting suspended, do we found out why?” asked Del. Melvin Stukes, D-Baltimore City. “Are they homeless? Is it abuse? Mental issues? Hearing problems? Dental problems? We never go far enough to identify what’s going on.”

Suspensions spiked across the state last school year, reaching the second-highest rate on record with one in 11 students being suspended, according to a study by the nonprofit Advocates for Children and Youth.

Recent reports about students attacking teachers underscore the need to evaluate punishments and the reasons behind students’ aggression, Stukes said.

“Unless you want to continue to have the spotlight of America on violence in our schools,” he said, “this issue has got to be addressed.”

A measure that would establish a task force to study why some students are suspended multiple times awaits Gov. Martin O’Malley’s signature.

The number of students suspended more than once increased to 28,400 last school year, up from 26,900 during 2005-2006, according to ACY’s report.

Stukes supports having more alternative schools that still have curriculum and aren’t just “holding cells.”

Baltimore schools chief Andres Alonso plans to introduce in the next few weeks his plans for additional alternative schools for troubled kids.

Black students are 2.4 times likelier than whites to be suspended from school, ACY found.

“It’s the language; look at the gangsta attitude,” Stukes said.

“It’s not rocket science.”

Teachers say principals limit suspensions to avoid having their school listed as “persistently dangerous” under No Child Left Behind.

kvolkmann@baltimoreexaminer.com