A Reader Writes... (Expulsion Documentation)

In response to the post, “Expulsion Documentation,” a reader (and Brown Guy) writes:

“Well said, Sean. I don't allow my assistant principals to expel kids because they are too close to the fire, so to speak, and cannot always be objective. In general, I will only expel when a Chapter 37 (Texas Education Code) expulsion is mandated, and even then I try to find a graduation solution. So far this year, I have had to expel three students for mandatory reasons, and two of the three have/will graduate. For a non-mandatory expulsion to occur, the amount of documentation I would require would be so substantial it would probably be easier for teachers and assistant principals to find other solutions. On a similar note, I still find it disturbing how fast band directors and athletic directors write kids off. I continuously have to fight that battle. I tend to believe that extra-curricular activities ceased to be about kids along time ago.”

SC Response
I think there are three keys to preventing expulsions and kicking kids out of extra-curricular activities. First, as I mentioned in my post, you have to create a system that removes the revenge / anger factor from the decision making process.

The second key is that you have to create a culture where the adults view student failure as their own failure. Too many schools have staff that view the failure of students as part of the natural order.

The third key is leadership. If leadership doesn’t take the loss of each student personally, then the staff will learn that there is an acceptable level of loss and will act accordingly.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn…