Addressing the School to Prison Pipeline
Racial inequalities in the education system is a problem that we still face today, especially in regard to the school to prison pipeline. This term is used to define the overwhelming tendency of those of a low-income or disadvantaged background to end up incarcerated usually being minors and even more those of a minority population. This issue is especially important for the public as it affects most communities and how we treat our youth in school systems. The discrepancies in discipline, opportunities, and resources for low-income students, as well as the increased security in schools, may all be contributing factors alongside the overwhelming issue of institutionalized racism.
This issue stems from the increasingly harsh punishment of minority children primarily Hispanic and African American in the school systems in comparison to white students, typically in schools with high poverty rates. These children have their behavior punished through things like court referrals which put their first offense on their record, increasing the likelihood that they will end up in the prison system after or even before finishing high school, with black students are 2.6 percent more likely to be suspended than students that are caucasian (Wald & Loosen, 2003). It has also been shown that suspensions and expulsions increase the likelihood of students dropping out of school, increasing chances of ending up in the prison system (The school to prison pipeline: The issue, The Solution, and Guiding Principles to Consider, 2019). This problem beginning and continuing from the long-internalized problem of institutionalized racism that has been a part of our school systems since the initial desegregation of schools.
Students of minority populations typically have their behavior misconstrued by those in positions of authority at schools, including teachers and principals. The legitimacy of claims of disciplinary action for behavioral problems in minority, primarily black, students are being investigated. More often than not black student's behavior is more likely to be perceived as aggressive or hostile compared to white students even if they exhibit the same or similar behavior. Black students are more likely to be disciplined for subjective interpretations of behavior, like disrespect (Nelson & Lind, 2015).
(The school to prison pipeline: The issue, The Solution, and Guiding Principles to Consider, 2019).
Discrepancies in the discipline in schools have also increased since the influx of school shootings. Zero tolerance policies in schools for bringing a weapon to school have also contributed as reports have come out of students being suspended under the policy for things like making guns with their fingers or bringing a camping fork for cub scouts into class (Nelson & Lind, 2015). This zero-tolerance policy calls for out-of-school suspension for a year. This increases the likelihood of incarceration for kids with these types of marks on their record.
For students put in these situations from an early age become socialized through it. Their motivation for school, in general, may entirely decline due to the circumstances they are subject to. When they are being treated as a criminal for making mistakes that are typical for other children their age but they are being disciplined differently from one another creates a sense of inevitable failure for them.
A solution to this particular problem may be hard to pinpoint as it goes much deeper than meets the eye. The problem is within our institutions of education which have proven to be a difficult thing to change. However, there is a possible start in the way we discipline our students, the discrepancies in how we discipline are a large problem that could possibly be fixed with better policies. Things like court referrals for minors in regard to behavioral problems are extreme when their claims are on things like students being disrespectful. The set up of our schools may also be a problem, while they may be trying to protect students, the increase of things like multiple police officers and metal detectors on campus may be doing more harm than good, treating children like they're already in prison. There is also a possibility in the funding of our schools that could help this issue, thus increasing the opportunities and resources we give to students, helping to increase the likelihood of graduation for students despite being low income. This bit of hope for students may help them with motivation for school rather than feeling like they are fighting to stay in against the institution above them.
A solution to this problem will be slow but I don't think impossible, although it will take intense policy changes and awareness from our school systems and the communities in which they lie. These children deserve a better and equal chance of success.
Wald, J. and Losen, D.J. (2003), Defining and redirecting a school‐to‐prison pipeline. New Directions for Youth Development, 2003: 9-15. doi:10.1002/yd.51
The school to prison pipeline: The issue, The Solution, and Guiding Principles to Consider, 2019: https://stoprecidivism.org/the-school-to-prison-pipeline/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0O6QnImK6QIVEfDACh2CsgcoEAAYASAAEgJIa_D_BwE
The school to prison pipeline, explained by Libby Nelson & Dara Lind (2015): http://www.justicepolicy.org/news/8775
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