Cykdelic Loc: Now outside of Chiraq & Santa Fe, NM

"New York public-school students caught stealing, doing drugs or even attacking someone can avoid suspension under new “progressive” discipline rules adopted this month.

Most likely, they will be sent to a talking circle instead, where they can discuss their feelings.

Convinced traditional discipline is racist because blacks are suspended at higher rates than whites, New York City’s Department of Education has in all but the most serious and dangerous offenses replaced out-of-school suspensions with a touchy-feely alternative punishment called “restorative justice,” which isn’t really punishment at all. It’s therapy."

So, the talking stick will become the norm!

P7049 Loc: Madison, WI

Talk is always good.

Cykdelic Loc: Now outside of Chiraq & Santa Fe, NM

That's what I tried to say when two thugs tried to jump me in Nawlins.

Here in Chicago, the rumor is that when a student assaults a teacher, they go through a similar talk circle, WITH talking stick, where the attacked teacher tries to amend for the perceived lack of respect for the student that caused him or her to assault the teacher. Have not been able to verify this yet. Either way, NO, talk is NOT always good.

It's important, can be very useful, but must be correctly directed and the dialogue must not be nonsense.

P7049 Loc: Madison, WI

Obviously you have had some bad experiences but your dialogue on this site on this issue is a good sign.

Cykdelic Loc: Now outside of Chiraq & Santa Fe, NM

Pretty normal experience for Chicago.........I just found Nawlins to be out of the expectations.

Budnjax Loc: NE Florida

This is totally understandable when you elect an idiot who is close to being a communist as mayor....although he does seem to fit right in pretty well with the rest of the politicians in NY. I'm afraid the rest of the country is not far behind NY in sliding into failure, especially when we have two political parties which exist only to convince dumb people that they have a choice-they don't.

Cykdelic Loc: Now outside of Chiraq & Santa Fe, NM

Actually bad for them.....note I said "tried" to jump me.

moondog Loc: afton ny

Good for you Cykdelic, this is why kids have no respect for anything. There is no consequence to their actions. When I was growing up, if you got out of line ,you paid the price. You end up with young people doing whatever they want, they get arrested and say "gee, I only killed someone- can't we talk about it? This is the reason my American Express card is a Les Baer .45, I never leave home without it!

chazz4623 Loc: Prairieville, La

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

bgl Loc: Brooklyn,New York

Here are some stats to digest: 1.1 million students in NYC public schools. 90% are Black or Hispanic with the remaining 10% consisting of Whites and Asians many of whom attend the City's schools for high achievers like Music and Art, Science, etc. So considering these facts, there is no way that that Blacks wouldn't be suspended at higher rates than whites. New York being what it is has a substantial population of affluent whites. Many of their children attend private schools in and around the City. New York City public schools are the most highly segregated schools in the nation. So, whaddya think of dem apples!

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

While the public schools in the City may be mostly black, blue,or green they are not tecchnically segregated. The law does not mandate which groups go or do noty go to the public schools. There used to be many charter schools in the City. Most were shut down by the great leader or the teachers union. Either of which are the enemies of good education. Stuyvesant H.S. one of the best high schools in the country (of which I am a graduate) is now mostly aisian. Stuyvesant is a public school which requires an entrance exam to attend. There was a movement to make the test more "inclusive" make that easier so that the student body would be more representitive of the citywide population. Thankfully it was not passed. Check it out on google and you will find that the graduates have a very large number of M.D.s PHD,. and nobel prize winners among them. I am not represented as one of them.

bgl Loc: Brooklyn,New York

Of course the segregation is not mandated, it is the by product of where people live, their neighborhoods. As for charter schools, they succeed or fail based upon their performance (except for the ones that are artificially propped up). Since they are funded by taxpayer dollars, I am not favorably disposed towards them as they do not have to meet the same academic standards or Dept of Education oversight as our public schools. I am just as appalled as anyone about the sad state of public education in NYC however I think blaming the teachers or their union is missing the point. Think of it, trying to educate 1 million kids, maybe most of whom come from less than ideal circumstances by less than enough teachers, jammed into overcrowded classrooms. Yes, the teachers union, like the police union in NYC does its best to protect bad actors/poor performers but they certainly didn't create the demographic nightmare that exists.