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“Spare the rod: Amid evidence zero tolerance doesn’t work, schools reverse themselves” podcast

(Aired August 25, 2016)

Description: This podcast examines the problem of racially disproportionate school discipline and its connections to the school-to-prison pipeline in the U.S. It traces the historical roots of suspension as a disciplinary practice in the U.S., considers why students of color are disproportionately selected for exclusionary practices, and explores how U.S. schools are confronting racially disproportionate exclusionary discipline. While research has demonstrated that exclusionary zero tolerance practices are ineffective, schools are now facing a new dilemma—how to handle student misbehavior. This podcast raises issues of racial inequality as it relates to school discipline and raises the question of how schools ought to confront student misbehavior.

Topics/Themes: School discipline