The so-called “School Discipline Bill†(Senate Bill 199) passed in the recent legislative session, but don’t worry, no corporal punishment is involved. It is mostly a diversion to make the governor look like he cares about teachers. News flash, as Gov. Patrick Morrisey siphons off funds from public schools to private ones through the Hope Scholarship, he does not care.
The governor had his photo taken signing SB 199, surrounded by roughly 20 cherubic faced children and a few teachers at Ripley Elementary School, in Jackson County. Do the kids know what he is signing? Did each parent give consent for their child to be photographed? I hope so. Regardless, it is a political stunt.
We do not need discipline. We need more social workers.
At one school I teach at, which is similar to so many others in our state I’m sure, fabulous social workers are about to be let go because of lack of funding. At this particular school, there is a social worker and counselor. Both are told they will likely be let go this year and, if the school is lucky, they will get a different part time, more senior counselor (since all this firing stuff runs on seniority).
SB 199 requires a student in grades kindergarten through sixth, whose behavior is seen as threatening, to be referred to a school counselor, school social worker, behavioral specialist, school psychologist or board-certified behavior analyst to assess the causes of the problem and establish a two-week behavioral plan. If the student shows no improvement within two weeks, they can be placed in a behavioral intervention program.
So, you can see the rub. The bill depends on social workers that are being let go left and right.
The bill allows for the creation of alternative learning centers but provides no funding options.
The bill is meant to empower teachers, according to the governor. But it doesn’t do much of anything except make more paperwork.
Students can be removed for the remainder of the day, or receive a three-day suspension.
What if it is a small child left home alone and both parents work? The suspension does the opposite of what it should, it academically penalizes a student. How about making them do more work, not less? How about they be required to stay after school to work with the janitor, or makeup days in summer? Instead, they fall further behind.
So, Gov. Morrisey, enough with the photo ops, sir. Have you seen the kids without parents? In some counties, half of all kids are raised by their grandparents. Students need a hand up, not a slap down. Due to school consolidation, classrooms are huge, and bursting at the seams. Roughly 26,000 West Virginia kids are being raised by their grandparents. According to West Virginia Watch, nearly half of all West Virginia grandparents raise their grandkids. If you are one of those grandparents, bless you. You are saints and miracle workers. You hold up the world and get no respect. I salute you and thank you for what you do each day.
Those kids, all our kids, need social workers, need counselors; and they should be well-compensated for their time.
Morrisey says, “I pledge to you that I am going to do whatever it takes to ensure that West Virginia kids excel.†I, along with counselors who have been let go and many other teachers, principals and students, call BS.
Paula Kaufman has taught in five countries and six states, in parochial, public and private schools. She currently teaches in Randolph County. She is a graduate of South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä High School and Brown University.
