Why School Suspensions Are Detrimental: A Critical Look

5 min read Post on May 03, 2025

Why School Suspensions Are Detrimental: A Critical Look

The Academic Impact of School Suspensions

School suspensions significantly impact a student's academic trajectory, often leading to a downward spiral that's difficult to escape.

Increased Absenteeism and Falling Grades

Suspensions directly translate to lost instructional time. Students miss crucial lessons, fall behind their peers, and struggle to catch up on missed assignments. This lost learning time significantly impacts their grade point average (GPA) and overall academic achievement.

Lost instructional time: Days spent suspended are days of missed learning, widening the achievement gap.
Difficulty catching up on missed work: The sheer volume of missed material can be overwhelming, leading to further disengagement.
Negative impact on GPA: Lower grades directly result from missed classes and incomplete assignments, affecting future educational opportunities.
Increased risk of dropping out: The cumulative effect of falling grades and academic disengagement increases the likelihood of students dropping out of high school. This ultimately limits their educational attainment and future life chances.

Negative Impact on Graduation Rates

The correlation between school suspensions and higher dropout rates is undeniable. Suspension contributes to a cycle of disengagement and alienation from the school community, diminishing a student's motivation to succeed.

The cycle of suspension and disengagement: Frequent suspensions often lead to further behavioral problems and increased absenteeism, creating a vicious cycle.
Decreased motivation: Feeling punished and excluded can significantly decrease a student's motivation to attend school and engage in learning.
Reduced connection to school community: Suspension isolates students, weakening their sense of belonging and reducing their access to supportive relationships. This ultimately hinders their educational equity. The impact on high school graduation rates is particularly significant.

The Social-Emotional Impact of School Suspensions

Beyond academic setbacks, school suspensions inflict substantial damage on a student's social-emotional well-being.

Increased Behavioral Problems

Suspension can exacerbate existing behavioral issues or even create new ones. The feelings of isolation, anger, and resentment that accompany suspension can lead to increased acting out and defiance.

Increased anger, frustration, and resentment: Students may feel unfairly targeted, leading to negative feelings towards school authority figures.
Feelings of failure and hopelessness: Suspension reinforces a sense of failure and can contribute to depression and anxiety. This impacts social-emotional learning and overall mental health.
Difficulty regulating emotions: The lack of structure and support during suspension can make it harder for students to manage their emotions effectively.

Damage to Student-Teacher Relationships

Suspensions severely damage the vital student-teacher relationship. Positive relationships are crucial for academic success and overall well-being. Suspension disrupts this positive school climate.

Loss of trust: Suspension can erode trust between students and teachers, making it harder for students to seek help and support.
Difficulty reintegrating into the classroom: Returning to school after a suspension can be challenging, requiring effort from both the student and teacher to rebuild rapport.
Reduced access to support: Suspended students often lose access to crucial support systems, including counseling and mentoring programs. This negatively impacts the school culture as a whole.

The Long-Term Consequences of School Suspensions

The impact of school suspensions extends far beyond the immediate consequences, impacting a student's long-term prospects.

Increased Risk of Juvenile Delinquency

Research indicates a strong link between school suspensions and involvement in the juvenile justice system. The disruption of routines and increased exposure to negative influences during suspension increase the risk of delinquent behavior.

Increased exposure to negative influences: Time spent away from school can expose students to negative peer groups and risky behaviors.
Disruption of routines: The interruption of school routines can further destabilize a student’s life, making them more vulnerable to negative influences.
Decreased opportunities for positive development: Suspension limits access to positive role models and opportunities for personal growth, increasing the likelihood of involvement in the criminal justice system. Effective youth crime prevention strategies should therefore focus on alternatives to suspensions.

Reduced Life Opportunities

A disciplinary record, including school suspensions, can significantly hinder a student's future educational and employment prospects.

Challenges with college applications: Many colleges consider disciplinary records during the admissions process, potentially limiting access to higher education.
Difficulty securing employment: Employers often screen applicants based on their background, and a disciplinary record can negatively impact employment opportunities.
Reduced earning potential: Limited educational and employment opportunities translate into reduced earning potential throughout a student's life, impacting their overall social mobility. Addressing long-term outcomes requires a comprehensive approach.

Conclusion

School suspensions inflict significant academic, social-emotional, and long-term damage on students. The negative consequences, ranging from decreased academic achievement to increased risk of juvenile delinquency, necessitate a fundamental shift in disciplinary approaches. Instead of relying on detrimental school suspensions, let's adopt proactive and supportive approaches that nurture student growth and create a positive school environment. Restorative justice practices, positive behavior interventions and supports (PBIS), and other alternative disciplinary strategies offer promising alternatives. Let's work together to move beyond the damaging effects of school suspensions and create more equitable and effective disciplinary strategies that promote student success and well-being.