The discipline system at Oak Park and River Forest High School has had a troubling history, especially for black students and black males in particular. Blacks have been overrepresented for years, tops in suspensions and infractions. Semester after semester, year after year. The issue has been talked to death and the numbers hardly ever budge. What can be done? How can this change? These same questions have been asked before, and they were front and center at a recent school board retreat to tackle the issue.
At Oak Park Public Library, Dec. 6, from early morning to late afternoon, more than 40 Oak Park residents — including school board members, administrators, students and residents — gathered to tackle the issue again. But the goal this time was not to leave with the same talk and little change, school board President John Phelan insisted.
Meaningful programs and initiatives, which might include changes in board policies, are possibilities. But before anything is set in stone to create much-needed change, more candid and honest dialogue is still needed, Phelan said.
That kind of candid talk took place at a couple of the round tables from last Saturday’s retreat, including blueprints for some of the solutions we support. Discipline can’t simply be about punishing kids. Self-discipline among students must be encouraged. The current Code of Conduct must evolve into something more than just a list of “if you do this, then this will happen to you” commandments. It should outline and encourage specific positive behaviors.
The differences in culture and socio-economics must be understood and appreciated in any discipline system model. A student who constantly shows up late for morning classes is considered tardy and gets a detention. But if the student is responsible for getting his or her younger siblings ready for school because their parents are working multiple jobs, should that student be punished or praised? Is that actually good student behavior which should be encouraged? Can his or her schedule be rearranged to accommodate such familiar family dynamics?
Yes it should.
Skeptical eyes — including us — will be watching to see if anything comes out of this latest discipline pow-wow. But we’re encouraged by the effort, candor and self-examination. And thanks go to board member Jackie More for spearheading this retreat.
Change can happen — one step at a time.